Airlines of India - AI ATQ-YTO flight held up 11 hrs - rat got on board

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Rat-holds-up-AIs-Toronto-flight-for-11-hrs-at-Amritsar/articleshow/5061025.cms

Rat holds up AI's Toronto flight for 11 hrs at Amritsar

Yudhvir Rana, TNN 27 September 2009, 02:17am IST

AMRITSAR: An ‘unlisted passenger’ aboard Air India’s Amritsar-Toronto flight via London kept the airlines staff at Raja Sansi International airport on tenterhooks for 11 hours on Saturday — the time by which they would have covered half the journey.

According to AI’s airport manager Ashwani Arora, the security staff spotted a rat aboard flight number 187 bound for Toronto with 238 passengers as it was being connected with the aerobridge and informed the staff.

[...]

Rats hopping onboard was (is?) a big problem in BOM a few years ago when the aircraft are parked on the tarmac. :(

I've seen enough bad and silly publicity about AI, yet, am amazed and shocked at this one...not surprised, though!

Nothing to do with AI, airlines have to watch for such things like hawks. Checking for rodents is regular part of aircraft maintainance.

Nothing to do with AI, airlines have to watch for such things like hawks. Checking for rodents is regular part of aircraft maintainance.
Which is why its AI's problem. I agree all airlines need to watch out for stuff like this, but why is it that AI is usually the one in the news? I suppose the others must've got all the good PR guys ;-)

Rats tend to come in on not particularly clean planes, with sloppy maintenance crews. AI qualifies on both counts.

I think the record has to be held by AA and this is going to be hard to beat

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/07/mice_on_a_plane.html

There were dead mice in the oxygen masks, live mice under the seats and mice feces "throughout the whole aircraft,"

In a video report you can watch here, the tipster tells KSDK that 900 to 1,000 mice may have been onboard. He also gave the station video he took with a hidden camera. The airline, in a written statement, said it found 17 live mice.

Rats tend to come in on not particularly clean planes, with sloppy maintenance crews. AI qualifies on both counts.

Ever been on american domestic planes? :D

Ever been on american domestic planes? :D

Sure. Which is why I posted that link about mice on an AA 767.

I think the record has to be held by AA and this is going to be hard to beat

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/07/mice_on_a_plane.html

There were dead mice in the oxygen masks, live mice under the seats and mice feces "throughout the whole aircraft,"

In a video report you can watch here, the tipster tells KSDK that 900 to 1,000 mice may have been onboard. He also gave the station video he took with a hidden camera. The airline, in a written statement, said it found 17 live mice.
At least AI has company, though they might not BE one soon!

Rats tend to come in on not particularly clean planes, with sloppy maintenance crews. AI qualifies on both counts.

:)^