Unusual: a crate containing 130 hamsters opens when the plane lands, the rodents have been playing hide and seek in an Airbus for 5 days now

After the film “Snakes on the Plane”, an Airbus 320 experienced a “hamsters on the plane” episode in Portugal. The TAP company paid the price; the aircraft has been grounded for five days because 132 hamsters escaped from the boxes in which they were transported in the hold.

According to the local Portuguese media Correio de manha, it had been four days, Saturday November 16, 2024, that the maintenance teams had been running after the small rodents lost in the huge plane! Some are still untraceable. This prevents the device from taking off, because we cannot take the risk of a hamster eating the electrical systems in mid-flight. Before doing so, we must ensure that no more animals are roaming free on the plane.

Non-compliant luggage?

Still according to Correio de manha, the plane took off from Lisbon and was supposed to go to Ponta Delgada. Upon landing, it was noted by the baggage collection teams that boxes had been damaged, and that hamsters had gone on an adventure on the plane. The plane was supposed to return to Lisbon, which is not yet possible.

This baggage carrying animals had been refused on a previous flight because it did not comply, before finally being authorized on this one.