Stowaway cat causes two-day flight delay

Cat flying in the plane
By Alexandra Coulton


An Israeli airline suffered quite a long delay last week when a stowaway cat managed to find its way onto a cargo plane.

According to Israeli media outlet Ynet, an El Al Dreamliner 787 was grounded at a Hong Kong Airport for at least two days after cat paw prints were found on board.

Seeing as aviation procedures forbid planes from flying with an animal on the loose, the flight’s crew were tasked with locating the cat along with airport ground staff.

Apparently, both groups were unsuccessful in locating the feline, even with the help of traps, which were placed in the cabin and cargo hold overnight.

Ynet reported that the cat must have boarded the plane while its cargo was being loaded at Ben Gurion Airport.

Simple Flying reported that flight data showed the plane arrived in Hong Kong on 10 November and was scheduled to return to Israel the following day. However, it took until 12 November for the flight to return to Tel Aviv.

It’s not clear whether the cat was found or not, but we assume it was seeing as the plane was given clearance to take off.

So, let’s hope the little critter has found a home with a loving family in Hong Kong rather than wound up in a trap.

Travel Weekly has contacted El Al for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication.

Image source: iStock/GummyBone

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