Last October, the first notable incident occurred: a passenger found a mouse in his meal during a Scandinavian Airlines flight. The situation caused panic and forced an emergency landing. Later, a viral video captured a rat crossing the cabin on a Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas to Los Angeles, raising passengers’ concerns. Although two isolated cases do not constitute a trend, it is important to know how to act in such a situation.
How should you react if you see a mouse on your flight?
If you see a mouse on a plane, remember that it is more afraid of you than the other way around. These rodents tend to avoid contact with humans and will quickly look for a hiding place to escape the busy cabin environment.
What to do if the mouse hides
According to , the best response is to remain calm. Avoid overreacting or making noise, which can disorientate the mouse and cause it to move more around the cabin. Ideally, it should hide in silence until the end of the flight, preventing it from causing more panic among passengers.
Staying calm is also crucial to avoid causing panic among other passengers, as, in a crowded cabin, the chaos can be more dangerous than the rat itself.
Give the animal space
It’s helpful to raise your feet to make it easier to move your mouse, but it’s not mandatory. Make sure there is no food in sight by closing any food or drink containers you have. This will prevent the mouse from approaching, attracted by odors.
Learn a little more about rats
Rats are very adaptable animals and can infiltrate surprising environments, such as an airplane, in search of food and shelter. These small rodents have very keen hearing and sense of smell, which allows them to react quickly to sounds and smells in the environment. In stressful situations, such as a plane full of people, it is common for them to seek refuge and stay out of sight, as they tend to avoid interactions with humans.
Despite being small, rats can pose a risk in closed environments, as they can transmit diseases. However, it is rare for these animals to directly interact with people in a public space as busy as an airplane. Therefore, remaining calm and following the suggestions above is the best way to ensure a safer and more peaceful flight for everyone.
Also read:
