More than 250 passengers were left stranded in the Caribbean after a large rat was seen moving through the cabin of a KLM Airbus A330, forcing the airline to cancel its return flight from Aruba to Amsterdam.
The aircraft had departed Amsterdam Schiphol for Aruba and Bonaire when the rodent was first noticed on board mid-flight. Since the animal was spotted while already crossing the Atlantic, the crew opted to continue to Aruba, where the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service upon arrival.
Passenger videos shared on social media show a sizable rat climbing along the overhead curtain track, prompting alarm among both passengers and crew. KLM confirmed that the aircraft could not safely operate its scheduled return to the Netherlands until a complete inspection and deep cleaning had been completed in accordance with public-health and safety regulations.
The airline arranged hotel accommodation and rebooking options for affected travelers. The incident underscores the operational and hygiene challenges airlines can face in tropical destinations, where strict biosecurity protocols are required before returning to service.
Image: A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew
Video: A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew