KLM passengers terrorized by 'Massive' rat: Airline cancels flight, health risks exposed
TOI GLOBAL DESK | Dec 17, 2025, 20:40 IST
<span style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 1.1px;">Flight Grounded: Passengers Branded 'Targets' by Giant Rodent </span>
( Image credit : AP )
Holiday travelers faced an unusual situation on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Aruba. A rat was spotted in the cabin, leading to the cancellation of the connecting flight to Bonaire. The aircraft underwent thorough cleaning. Rats can spread serious diseases. In another incident, a rat was smuggled into Taiwan.
<p>A FedEx airplane descends to land at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)</p>
Holiday travelers on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to the Caribbean encountered an unexpected passenger: a rat that was spotted running through the cabin. The flight was en route to Aruba, with a subsequent leg to Bonaire. Passengers awaiting their connection to Bonaire were informed that the flight had been grounded and was ultimately canceled.
A KLM spokesperson described the incident as a "very exceptional incident." The airline stated that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew are always their top priority.
"The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew are always our top priority," the spokesperson said.
Due to the presence of the rat, the flight from Aruba to Bonaire was canceled. This allowed the aircraft to undergo a thorough cleaning before being returned to service.
A video shared on social media showed the rat described by some as "massive." It was observed scurrying across the overhead curtain track within the cabin.
The aircraft in question needed to be "thoroughly cleaned" before it was "put back into service," according to the airline.
Rats can pose significant public health risks by spreading diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that these diseases can include bacterial and viral illnesses such as monkeypox, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis.
Rodents are also capable of causing rat-bite fever (RBF). This condition can manifest with flu-like symptoms, including fever, vomiting, muscle pain, and potential rashes.
"RBF can spread to people through scratches, bites, or contact with a rodent's saliva or pee," the CDC explains.
In a separate incident in 2023, a rat and an otter were smuggled into a passenger's suitcase on a flight from Bangkok to Taiwan. An employee discovered the rat and sustained a bite on the hand.
A KLM spokesperson described the incident as a "very exceptional incident." The airline stated that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew are always their top priority.
"The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew are always our top priority," the spokesperson said.
Due to the presence of the rat, the flight from Aruba to Bonaire was canceled. This allowed the aircraft to undergo a thorough cleaning before being returned to service.
A video shared on social media showed the rat described by some as "massive." It was observed scurrying across the overhead curtain track within the cabin.
The aircraft in question needed to be "thoroughly cleaned" before it was "put back into service," according to the airline.
Rats can pose significant public health risks by spreading diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that these diseases can include bacterial and viral illnesses such as monkeypox, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis.
Rodents are also capable of causing rat-bite fever (RBF). This condition can manifest with flu-like symptoms, including fever, vomiting, muscle pain, and potential rashes.
"RBF can spread to people through scratches, bites, or contact with a rodent's saliva or pee," the CDC explains.
In a separate incident in 2023, a rat and an otter were smuggled into a passenger's suitcase on a flight from Bangkok to Taiwan. An employee discovered the rat and sustained a bite on the hand.