Scandinavian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Passenger Discovers Mouse in Meal

 

A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight from Oslo to Málaga had to make an unscheduled landing on Wednesday after a passenger found a mouse in their meal, the airline confirmed on Friday.

The incident occurred mid-flight when a passenger opened their food and a live mouse jumped out, according to another passenger, Jarle Borrestad, who shared the unusual experience on Facebook. He posted a photo of himself smiling alongside two other passengers, despite the unsettling event.

Airlines have strict rules prohibiting rodents on board due to the potential danger they pose. Mice can chew through important electrical wires, which are critical for the safe operation of the aircraft.

SAS spokesperson Øystein Schmidt stated that "as per our procedures, the aircraft was changed," and all passengers were later flown to Málaga on a different plane. Schmidt emphasized that such incidents are extremely rare and that the airline would be conducting a review with their suppliers to prevent a recurrence.

Unscheduled landings are not uncommon, although they are typically due to technical or safety concerns. However, incidents involving animals, like this one, have caused disruptions before. In 2017, a British Airways flight was delayed for four hours after a mouse was spotted on board, costing the airline an estimated £250,000.

In another example of unexpected flight diversions, a United Airlines flight from Houston to Amsterdam was redirected to Chicago in 2022 after a business class passenger became unruly when his meal choice was unavailable. Similarly, a Qatar Airways flight had to land unexpectedly in 2017 after a woman discovered her husband’s affair mid-flight.

While airline meals often lead to complaints, the discovery of a live mouse certainly took in-flight dining mishaps to a new level.