In an unusual turn of
events, a routine flight from Lisbon to the Azores took a wild detour when 132
hamsters managed to escape from their cages mid-flight, causing chaos and
grounding the aircraft for days. Here’s how this rodent escape became a
week-long headache for a Portuguese airline.
A Hamster Heist at 30,000 Feet
On November 13, a TAP Air
Portugal Airbus A321neo touched down in Ponta Delgada, a popular destination in
the Azores, carrying more than just passengers. Hidden away in the cargo hold
was a delivery bound for a local pet shop, including ferrets, birds, and—most
notably—132 hamsters.
But when baggage handlers
opened the cargo doors upon landing, they were met with a surprise: the
hamsters had broken free from their cages and were scurrying around the hold,
turning the plane’s belly into a makeshift hamster playground. The tiny
escapees had somehow managed to chew or break through their cages during the
flight, leaving the cargo hold in disarray.
A Race to Round Up the Rodents
As soon as the furry
stowaways were discovered, the airline grounded the plane for four days. Ground
crews in Ponta Delgada immediately sprang into action, combing every inch of
the aircraft in search of the wayward rodents. According to the Portuguese
aviation website Aviação TV, the plane was taken out of service, forcing TAP to
reroute or replace flights to avoid disruptions for other passengers.
With the plane’s maximum
capacity of 200 passengers, the clean-up operation was no small task. The
animals' elusive nature only made the search more challenging. Baggage handlers
worked around the clock, capturing hamsters from behind panels, beneath seats,
and tucked into the smallest of crevices.
Grounded in the Azores
The operation took four
days, during which the plane remained firmly on the tarmac. TAP Air Portugal
stayed tight-lipped, declining to comment on the incident, but local news
outlets reported on the diligent efforts of the ground staff, who managed to
locate most of the hamsters before the plane was finally cleared to return to
Lisbon.
The grounded plane
eventually made the 902-mile journey back to TAP’s headquarters in Lisbon on
November 18. With no passengers on board, the plane was flown back empty for a
thorough inspection and maintenance. According to the Correio da Manhã newspaper,
TAP’s maintenance team was prepared to conduct a meticulous check-up to ensure
there were no hamsters hiding in the wiring or ventilation systems before the
plane would be allowed to fly with passengers again.
Caught on Camera
Footage from the
incident, reportedly taken by a baggage handler, made its way online, showing
some of the tiny escapees darting around the cargo hold. Other photos, which
CBS News could not independently verify, showed a handler carefully retrieving
a hamster from a tight spot in the plane's interior using protective gloves.
These images quickly went viral, turning the unexpected hamster saga into a
light-hearted news story across the country.
A Small Furry Problem, A Big Delay
This incident isn’t just
a funny story; it highlights the challenges airlines face when transporting
live animals. Ensuring that cages are secure and durable enough to withstand
the bumps and jolts of flight is critical to avoid similar mishaps in the
future. The delay cost TAP valuable time and resources, not to mention the
inconvenience for passengers whose travel plans may have been impacted by the
plane’s unexpected grounding.
It also serves as a
reminder that transporting animals is a delicate operation, requiring careful
planning and secure containment to prevent any mid-air adventures from disrupting
the travel industry.
Final Thoughts: A Fluff-Filled Fiasco
While the case of the
rogue hamsters ended without any serious consequences, it’s certainly a story
that will be remembered by TAP Air Portugal’s crew and passengers. One has to
wonder—what could have happened if the hamsters had gone unnoticed until
another flight?
What’s your take?
Do you think airlines should have stricter regulations for transporting animals
to avoid incidents like this, or is this just one of those unpredictable
moments that add a bit of unexpected humor to the world of aviation? Share your
thoughts in the comments below!
