Tengrinews.kz - A plane in Portugal was delayed for an unusual reason, according to CM.
A strange incident disrupted operations at Ponta Delgada Airport in the Azores. A TAP Airlines passenger plane could not return to Lisbon due to the escape of 132 hamsters from their cages in the cargo hold. The incident occurred on Tuesday, but its consequences dragged on for a week as airport staff tried to catch all the escaped rodents.
How it happened
An Airbus A321neo, valued at €100 million, had departed Lisbon for Ponta Delgada carrying passengers, luggage, and an unusual cargo: an order for a local pet store that included hamsters, ferrets, and birds. However, during the flight or upon landing, the containers with the hamsters were damaged, allowing the small and nimble animals to escape.
When the ground crew began unloading the plane, they discovered the animals running freely around the cargo hold. The situation raised concerns about potential damage to the aircraft's electrical wiring.
Photo: reddit.com/sacadeaparas
"Catch me if you can"
For four days, ground staff worked to capture the escapees so the plane could safely return to Lisbon. By Saturday, however, 16 hamsters were still on the loose in the cargo hold, eluding capture.
Sources revealed that the shipment was initially rejected for transport on another flight due to the cages not meeting safety requirements. Despite this, the cages were later approved, leading to this peculiar and challenging incident.
@cargopilot747 Hamsters prison break ???? The little fella‘s broke loose and put the Boeing AOG ???? #animals #hamster #Aviation #Fun #Pilot #pilotslife #jokes #fyp #fy ♬ Clumsy Situations - Eitan Epstein Music
Returning home
After several days of delays, the plane finally returned to Lisbon on Sunday, November 17, operating a special flight TP9260. It landed at the capital’s airport at 1:27 p.m. local time.
Representatives of TAP Airlines have not yet commented on the incident, and the exact cost of the damages remains unknown.
How to safely transport animals on planes: Airline regulations
