Furry Fugitives Ground Plane As Crew Races To Capture 130 Escapees

Over 100 hamsters have broken out of their cages on a plane, forcing the aircraft to be grounded on a Portuguese island.

Jesse

• Published in News
• November 21, 2024

In the world of aviation, turbulence, mechanical issues, or weather delays are the usual culprits for a grounded flight. But sometimes, life throws in an unexpected twist—this time in the form of 130 tiny, furry stowaways.

Passengers on a routine flight to the Azores could hardly have imagined the drama unfolding below their feet. Somewhere amid the hum of jet engines and the anticipation of landing, chaos was brewing in the cargo hold. The culprits were escaped hamsters who had chewed their way to freedom.

When the Airbus 320 touched down in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel Island, baggage handlers were greeted with a surreal sight: cages gnawed open and dozens of hamsters darting about. Maintenance workers quickly scrambled to contain the furry fugitives, but their numbers made it clear this was no small task.

Over the past week, the airline staff has managed to round up most of the adventurous rodents, but 16 remain at large, hiding in the plane’s crevices like tiny saboteurs. Officials worry the remaining hamsters might chew through crucial wires, turning this quirky mishap into a more serious maintenance challenge.

The airline hasn’t disclosed who was responsible for transporting such a large number of hamsters—or how their escape went unnoticed mid-flight. For now, the aircraft remains grounded, with teams working tirelessly to ensure all the escapees are accounted for.

Scroll down for more details on this intriguing piece...

Over 100 hamsters made a daring breakout after the plane landed

The hunt for the rogue hamsters began only after passengers had safely disembarked and their luggage was unloaded. It was then that the real passengers—over 130 mischievous rodents—made their presence known.

These furry escape artists were part of a shipment destined for a local pet shop on the island, traveling alongside some ferrets and birds who, fortunately, had the good sense to stay put.

Photo of the aircraft that was grounded due to this bizarre incident

The massive escape grounded the aircraft, preventing it from making its scheduled return to Lisbon, where the journey had initially begun. As of last night, the hunt for the remaining rogue rodents was still underway, according to local newspaper Correio da Manhã.

Intriguingly, sources revealed that the hamsters had been booked onto the flight after being denied passage on an earlier one due to their cages failing to meet safety standards. This time, however, they made it aboard—only to stage a breakout that’s become the talk of the aviation world.

TAP Air Portugal, the airline responsible for the flight, has yet to comment on the unexpected turn of events. Meanwhile, photos have surfaced showing workers gingerly extracting hamsters from their hiding spots. Workers could also be seen wearing gloves to protect themselves from the rodents’ razor-sharp teeth.

The hamsters’ infamous incisors, reportedly tougher than materials like lead, aluminum, iron, and copper, are nature’s built-in tools for survival. They are notorious for constantly gnawing to keep their teeth sharp, so it's no surprise that these little rodents are well-equipped to execute a jailbreak.

16 more hamsters remain at large

As workers scour the grounded plane for the last of these gnaw-happy fugitives, one can’t help but wonder—who will emerge victorious in this game of hide-and-seek?

For now, the skies belong to the hamsters, and Lisbon will have to wait.

Jesse