Cat takes three flights in 24 hours after being abandoned on plane
A cat made three flights between New Zealand and Australia in just 24 hours after being forgotten on a plane.
Eight-year-old Maine Coon Mittens was booked to travel from Christchurch to Melbourne on January 12 – but her cage was left in the cargo hold of an Air New Zealand plane.
After waiting three hours for Mittens at Melbourne Airport, owner Margo Ness was told by ground staff that the plane had already returned to New Zealand with her pet.
The heating was turned on to keep the cat comfortable during that flight, Ms. Ness said. The pet – which had lost weight but was otherwise unharmed – was later flown back to Melbourne to be reunited with its owner.
Speaking to NBC on Wednesday, Ms Ness said she and her son were informed about the crash by airport ground staff in Melbourne.
“They said: ‘Look, we’ve located your cat – but he’s actually on a return flight to Christchurch…’
“And I said: ‘When did you find out the cat wasn’t taken off the plane?’ And they said: ‘We’ve just discovered.’ And I said: ‘How can this be?'”
Ms Ness said she was told the pilot had been alerted in advance to turn on the heating in the cargo hall, where temperatures could drop as low as 7C.
The incident is still being investigated, but reports state that a stored wheelchair may have obscured the view of Mittens’ cage for the baggage handler.
Air New Zealand has apologized for the inconvenience caused and has promised to reimburse all travel costs.
The company does not accept pet bookings directly from the public for international flights, so passengers must book through approved pet carrier firms.
Ms. Ness said she was relieved to finally be reunited with Mitten.
“She basically just ran into my arms and just hugged me and gave me the biggest hug ever,” the AP news agency quoted her as saying on Wednesday. “It was just such a relief.”
Ms Ness, who had previously decided to move to Australia, said: “It wasn’t a good start to our new life in Melbourne because we didn’t have family, we weren’t fulfilled.”
One-way flying time between Christchurch and Melbourne usually takes less than four hours.
