132 Hamsters Escape, Ground TAP Air Portugal Flight for Days

A TAP Air Portugal plane was grounded for four days after hamsters escaped their cages in the cargo hold, risking potential damage to the aircraft.

132 hamsters escaped from damaged cages in the cargo hold of a TAP Air Portugal flight from Lisbon to the Azores.
The incident occurred on November 13, 2024, when the plane landed at Ponta Delgada Airport on São Miguel Island.
Airport staff feared the rodents might chew through electrical wires, prompting a thorough search that lasted four days.
The Airbus A320 was grounded during this period, and the plane returned to Lisbon without passengers after all hamsters were recaptured.
Reports indicate the hamster cages were previously rejected for poor condition on an earlier flight, raising questions about safety protocols.