TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Passengers of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines recently experienced an unpleasant incident. A flight to a holiday destination turned into a nightmare due to a rat. The flight was initially delayed for some time but was eventually cancelled.
The KLM Dutch aircraft was supposed to carry passengers to Aruba and then continue to the island of Bonaire. The flight usually takes about 10 hours.
According to People, a circulating video showed a rat running in the cabin. The rat even jumped into the overhead storage compartments and passenger storage units. However, it is not known how the rat managed to get into the plane.
A KLM Dutch spokesperson said that during the extraordinary incident, the passengers remained calm, and the staff continued to monitor the movements of the animal, ensuring that it did not get close to the food. "The safety and well-being of passengers and crew are always our top priority," the spokesperson said, as quoted from Fox News.
Not only was the flight to Aruba cancelled, the return flight from Aruba to Amsterdam via Bonaire was also cancelled. This cancellation was made so that the aircraft could be thoroughly cleaned before being put back into operation. Passengers were given compensation in the form of overnight accommodation while KLM looked for alternative flights for those affected.
Dangers of rats to health
Rats can pose serious health risks to the public by spreading diseases. The threats posed include bacterial and viral diseases such as monkeypox, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These rodents can also cause rat bite fever (RBF), which can present flu-like symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain, and potential rash. RBF can spread to humans through scratches, bites, or contact with rodent saliva or urine.
Animal incidents in flights
This is not the first time a rodent has sneaked into a flight and disrupted travel plans. In October 2024, Spirit Airlines passengers spotted a large rat from Dallas to Los Angeles. The animal was trapped inside a glass panel lamp in the aircraft cabin. A video showed what appeared to be claw movements around the panel.
Apart from rats, a cat also managed to escape and roam the cabin during a late November flight from Los Angeles to St. Louis. However, the animal brought joy to the passengers amidst a busy week of travel, as reported by People.
Read: KLM Joins 5 International Air Carriers Flying to Bali Airport
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