Three giant pandas depart Washington aboard China-bound aircraft

A FedEx aircraft transporting giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji took off from Dulles International Airport, near Washington, as the animals leave the United States for Chengdu, China.

The FedEx Panda Express, as the aircraft has been dubbed, embarks on a roughly 19-hour flight with a short stop in Anchorage, Alaska, for refueling.

Now in their mid-20s, pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo in 2000 and quickly became a much-loved star attraction.

During the flight, the pandas will be able to move about the enclosures, eat bamboo and play with their toys in complete comfort under the constant supervision of the zoo's animal care experts.