A Scandinavian Airlines spokesperson said the rodent posed a “safety risk” to travelers, who were flying from Oslo, Norway, to Malaga, Spain
A Scandinavian Airlines passenger got an unpleasant surprise when she opened her in-flight meal and a live mouse scampered out.
The unhygienic incident caused the flight to make an emergency landing on Wednesday, Sept. 17, the airline told the AFP news agency, according to the BBC.
Airline spokesperson Oystein Schmidt said the rodent posed a “safety risk” to travelers, who were flying from Oslo, Norway, to Malaga, Spain. The plane was diverted to Copenhagen.
Passengers later traveled to their original destination of Malaga on a different aircraft.
One of the passengers on board, Jarle Borrestad, shared his experience witnessing the furry intruder in a Facebook post.
“Believe it or not. A lady next to me here at SAS opened the food and out jumped a mouse. Now we have turned around and landed at CPH [Copenhagen Airport] for flight changes,” Borrestad wrote.
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Schmidt said that finding a mouse on a flight is “something that happens extremely rarely.”
“We have established procedures for such situations, which also include a review with our suppliers to ensure this does not happen again,” Schmidt added.
PEOPLE reached out to Scandinavian Airlines but did not immediately hear back.
An article on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) website notes that mice can chew through electrical wiring on planes — and partially chewed wires, which are harder to detect, can cause short circuits and pose a fire risk.
AOPA adds, “Once mice live in an airplane, it’s not only their house, but…uh…their bathroom, too. This is more than simply gross. Mouse urine is corrosive to metal, and their droppings can serve as anti-desiccants, retaining moisture and causing water corrosion.”
“If you see a mouse in the hangar, the correct response is to jump into action,” the article advises.
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