A longhaul KLM flight across the Atlantic turned into a logistical mess after a large rat was discovered onboard, an incident that ultimately left hundreds of passengers stranded in the Caribbean.
Giant Rat Found Onboard KLM Flight Across Atlantic Leaves Passengers Stranded
The incident occurred on a KLM Airbus A330 operating from Amsterdam (AMS) to Aruba (AUA), with onward service planned to Bonaire (BON). During the transatlantic crossing, passengers noticed a large rat moving through the cabin, including running across curtains and seemingly into an overhead bin. With the aircraft already well into the flight, there was no practical option to divert, and the crew continued to Aruba as scheduled.
Once the aircraft landed, the presence of the rat triggered mandatory sanitation and inspection procedures. As a result, the continuation to Bonaire (and later the return flight to Amsterdam via Aruba) were canceled. More than 250 passengers were left stranded, requiring hotel accommodations and rebooking while the aircraft was taken out of service.
KLM said it was not immediately clear how the animal boarded the aircraft (it’s clear to me, as I’ll explain below). The airline confirmed that the plane could not operate again until it had been fully cleaned and inspected, a process that took longer than expected due to local logistics.
Why The Flight Could Not Simply Continue
While unsettling, a rat onboard an aircraft is not just a comfort issue. Rodents can damage insulation and wiring, and therefore, airlines must treat such incidents seriously. Once the aircraft landed, KLM had no choice but to remove it from service until the situation was resolved.
Because the flight operated to island destinations, the disruption had an outsized impact. Replacement aircraft and crews were not immediately available, turning what might have been a routine delay into a multi-day disruption for some travelers.
As for why it happened, I concur with One Mile At A Time: look no further than Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which is the most rat-infested airport I’ve ever seen. I’ve personally seen rats in the terminal, and if you’re in a KLM lounge, you’ll notice the rat traps…everywhere. On a flight from AMS, it’s clear to me where the stowaway came from.
Finally, I would hope that KLM will not fight passengers over EU 261/2004 compensation for this…it is KLM’s job to keep its aircraft clean.
CONCLUSION
A rat onboard a transatlantic flight strikes me as one of the most uncomfortable onboard issues (especially if the rat was hidden inside an overhead bin…I’d be very paranoid), but the operational consequences were very real. Hundreds of passengers were stranded, flights were canceled, and an aircraft was sidelined until it could be cleared for service.
I suppose it’s better not to think about what might be lurking in the cabin…
Hat Tip: Jay Robert
So much for cleaning the planes..I think this had been forgotten post COvid
Fake news – that ain’t no giant rat. The Bosavi Woolly Rat (Mallomys istapantap) found in Papua New Guinea, can get as large as 32 inches nose-to-tail). The rat in the photo ain’t even a contender.
Note that the Bosavi woolly rat is so new to science that it hasn’t been formally described, hence the placeholder scientific name, Mallomys species nova. It was discovered in 2009, during the filming of a BBC nature documentary about the forest within Mount Bosavi crater in Papua New Guinea. Deforestation near the crater could endanger its habitat. As of 2025, the Bosavi woolly rat does not have an official scientific name. It is thought to be in the genus Mallomys, within the family Muridae.
On the other hand, first described in 1989, the subalpine woolly rat (Mallomys istapantap) is also a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Well, if I were a rat, I’d have boarded an Air France aircraft, I mean, they have a real first class, and Ratatouille is France’s national hero, so I was told…
Rats can beat humans in problem solving. Being intelligent and of this size, I would expect they would learn to wear a service vest by the next flight appearance!
Seriously, I had one dwelling in the truck engine compartment that chewed an air filter and caused $400 for the eviction and repairs.
Utterly unbelievable!
Thanks to onboard Wi-Fi, passengers were able to share the disturbing images before landing…
Stranded in the Caribbean…. yes please
The real question: Regardless of the incident, did Business Class passengers still receive their delft blue houses?