Flight cancelled for cleaning after 'massive' rat found on plane, 250 passengers affected

A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plane had to be grounded on Dec. 10 after a rat was spotted scurrying around the cabin.

In a video circulating online, passengers could be heard crying out in surprise and disgust as the "massive" rodent darted along a curtain rail.

According to The Independent, it also jumped onto overhead bins and storage units.

The incident took place while the plane was en route from Amsterdam to the Caribbean island of Aruba — a 10-hour flight.

The plane was subsequently scheduled to fly to Bonaire, also in the Caribbeans, before returning to Amsterdam.

But the return flight was cancelled so the plane could be "thoroughly cleaned" before being put back into service, said a KLM spokesperson.

Return flight cancelled

The KLM spokesperson told RTL News that the "pilot didn't really have any other choice" but to continue the flight to Aruba, as the rodent was discovered over the ocean.

"The passengers remained calm, and the staff kept a close eye on the animal. The animal also didn't come near the food," the spokesperson added.

Passengers who were supposed to be on the return flight were compensated with overnight accommodation while the airline looked to provide alternative flights.

Over 250 passengers were left stranded by the cancellation.

The spokesperson said that it was "a very exceptional incident", and the airline had to prioritise the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew.

Rats can pose safety risks on an aircraft if they chew through wires or critical components.

In February 2024, a rat was spotted on a SriLankan Airlines plane, causing it to be grounded for three days so the airline could check and make sure the rodent had not chewed through critical components.

Top images from A Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge/Facebook and aeronaunick.aviation/Instagram