Flight cancelled after massive rat discovered onboard VIDEO

A KLM Airbus A330 flight carrying 250 passengers from Amsterdam to Aruba and Bonaire was cancelled after a “massive” stowaway rat was reportedly discovered onboard, aviation news outlet Aviation24.be reported.

The rodent was seen during the transatlantic flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and video shared on social media appeared to show the animal scurrying across a curtain pole inside the aircraft.

After passengers disembarked in Aruba, the plane was grounded and subsequent flights were cancelled while the aircraft was thoroughly cleaned. A KLM spokesperson described the incident as “very exceptional” and said passenger and crew safety was the airline’s “top priority.”

“The flight from Aruba via Bonaire to Amsterdam was cancelled so that the aircraft could be thoroughly cleaned before being put back into service,” the spokesperson said.

Passengers were provided overnight accommodation and offered alternative flights. KLM told RTL News that the pilot had little choice but to continue the flight when the rat was discovered mid-air, but added that passengers remained calm and the animal did not approach the food.

Rodent infestations on aircraft are rare but can pose safety risks by potentially damaging critical wiring, prompting airlines to follow strict preventative procedures.

Last year, a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Oslo to Malaga was forced to land in Copenhagen after a rodent was found in a passenger's meal. A spokesperson said the diversion allowed for full aircraft inspection, fumigation, and replacement catering, adding that such procedures are standard for preventing future incidents.

By Aghakazim Guliyev