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Over 130 hamsters escaped from the cargo hold of a TAP Air Portugal Airbus A321neo, causing the aircraft to be grounded for four days. The incident occurred on November 13, 2024, at Ponta Delgada Joao Paulo II Airport. The aircraft had arrived from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport with passengers and the animals, including ferrets and birds, destined for a local pet shop.
Baggage handlers discovered that the boxes containing the hamsters were damaged, allowing them to escape. Ground crews were tasked with capturing the loose animals. According to Flightradar24 data, this took place on Flight TP1865. The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321neo, registration CS-TJR, delivered in October 2020.
Company sources revealed that the cargo package had previously been denied transport due to non-compliance with standards but was accepted on a subsequent flight. The presence of rodents posed safety risks as they could damage critical wiring and pose health hazards.
