A Chinese plane was forced to return to its port of origin after a rat was found to have hitched a ride and was scuttling about the cabin, Loong Air said on Friday.
The budget carrier plane left Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, after 7 a.m. and was headed for Xishuangbanna Dai in Yunnan province when the rat was discovered, Xinhua news agency reported.
The airliner confirmed it was not a domesticated pet and they were looking into how it got on the plane.
Rats are infamous for chewing up electric wire, a huge safety issue on an airplane as they could sabotage the flight control system.
They could have gotten into the plane by following catering vans and other cargoes, Xinhua quoted sources as saying.
Airline employees fumigated and disinfected the plane.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app