SAS Flight Diverts for Emergency Landing After Mouse Emerges from Passenger Meal

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) faced an unusual incident when one of its flights was forced to make an emergency landing due to a mouse that emerged from a passenger’s meal. The flight, which was en route from Oslo, Norway, to Malaga, Spain, had to divert to Copenhagen, Denmark, in accordance with the airline’s safety protocols. Oystein Schmidt, a spokesperson for SAS, emphasized that the presence of the mouse posed a safety risk, prompting the decision to land.

Typically, airlines enforce strict measures to keep rodents off aircraft, as they can damage critical components, such as electrical wiring. Schmidt noted that such occurrences are extremely rare and highlighted that SAS has established procedures for handling these situations. The airline also plans to conduct a review with its food suppliers to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Witness Jarle Borrestad recounted the event, explaining how the mouse escaped from a food box belonging to a nearby passenger. He described the atmosphere during the incident as calm, with no signs of panic among the passengers. However, he took precautions by covering his legs with socks to avoid any potential contact with the mouse.

Despite the diversion, the delay was minimal, only adding a few hours to the journey. Passengers were subsequently transferred to another aircraft to continue their trip to Malaga. This incident marks the second rodent-related disruption in recent days, following a similar event in southern England where a train was halted due to two squirrels boarding a carriage.

The SAS incident serves as a reminder of the unique challenges airlines face, not only in maintaining safety but also in managing unexpected animal encounters during flights. Both SAS and other transport services are likely to reassess their protocols to ensure passenger safety and comfort in light of these unusual occurrences.