Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) reported that one of its flights had to make an emergency landing after a mouse emerged from a passenger’s in-flight meal on Wednesday. The flight, which was en route from Oslo, Norway, to Malaga, Spain, was diverted to Copenhagen, Denmark.
The airline’s spokesperson, Oystein Schmidt, explained that the diversion was necessary as the furry intruder posed a safety risk, following company protocols. Passengers were subsequently transferred to a different aircraft to continue their journey to Malaga.
Airlines typically enforce strict policies regarding rodents on board to prevent damage to electrical wiring. “This is an extremely rare occurrence,” Schmidt noted. “We have established procedures for such situations, which include reviewing our suppliers to prevent a recurrence.”
Jarle Borrestad, a passenger on the flight, shared his experience with the BBC News Channel, explaining that the mouse escaped from the food box being opened by a woman seated next to him. He described the atmosphere as calm, with passengers remaining relaxed, although he admitted to pulling his socks over his trousers to prevent the mouse from crawling up his legs. Borrestad mentioned that the diversion added only a few hours to their journey.
This incident marks the second occurrence involving rodents in travel within a week; a train service in southern England was terminated after two squirrels boarded a carriage, with one refusing to leave.
