Mouse on a Plane: Emergency Landing for Scandinavian Airlines
In a surprising twist during a routine flight, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) was forced to make an unexpected landing after a live mouse was discovered in an in-flight meal. The incident occurred on a flight from Oslo, Norway, to Malaga, Spain, prompting an emergency touchdown in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The decision to divert was swiftly made by company procedures, as the presence of the furry intruder posed a potential safety risk. “This is something that happens extremely rarely,” said SAS spokesperson Oystein Schmidt to AFP. The airline emphasized the importance of such protocols to prevent damage to the aircraft’s electrical wiring.
Passenger’s reaction
Jarle Borrestad, a passenger on the flight, recounted the unusual event to the BBC News. He described how the mouse emerged from a meal box opened by a nearby passenger. Despite the potential chaos, Mr. Borrestad noted that the atmosphere remained calm. “People were not stressed at all,” he stated, though he did take the precaution of tucking his trousers into his socks.
Ensuring future safety: Reviewing procedures
In response to the incident, SAS has committed to reviewing its procedures with suppliers to prevent a recurrence. “We have established procedures for such situations,” affirmed Mr. Schmidt.
This unusual incident follows another rodent-related travel disruption in southern England, where a train journey was halted due to two squirrels boarding a carriage, with one stubbornly refusing to leave.
Passengers were eventually flown to Malaga on a different aircraft, with only a minor delay added to their journey.
