From correspondents in Paris

A DEAD hedgehog that created an airport mishap involving an Air France passenger plane nearly seven years ago has cost the French government more than €3 million ($5.06 million) in a court ruling.

On March 22, 1998, the hedgehog's carcass lying at the end of a runway at the Marseille airport attracted about 20 seagulls which were picking at it, oblivious to the Air France Airbus A320 roaring toward them about to lift off.

The plane's right engine sucked in the birds, destroying it and forcing the pilot to abort the takeoff.

Hedgehog costs France $5m, continued