The Danish are getting serious about this. Even Santa isn't safe anymore.

Danish give Santa a reindeer to replace animal killed in flyby

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Danish air force said yesterday it paid about 
$5,000 in compensation to a part-time Santa Claus whose reindeer died of 
heart failure when two fighter jets roared over his farm.

The animal, named Rudolf, was grazing at the farm of Olavi Nikkanoff in 
central Denmark when the screaming F-16 jets passed overhead at low 
altitude in February.

The reindeer collapsed and died, leaving Nikkanoff with the prospect of 
only one animal pulling his sleigh at Christmas.

He complained to the air force, which agreed to compensate him for the cost 
of the reindeer and veterinary expenses.

"We got a letter from Santa complaining about his reindeer's death and 
looked into it seriously," air force spokesman Capt. Morten Jensen said. 
The air force checked flight data and veterinary reports and concluded the 
planes had caused the animal's death.

Nikkanoff said he would use the money to buy a new reindeer before 
Christmas.

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