A recent Delta Airlines domestic flight in the US turned chaotic when two pigeons unexpectedly infiltrated the aircraft. The incident occurred on a Saturday as the flight was set to depart from Minneapolis to Madison, Wisconsin. Passengers were taken aback when, just after boarding, one of the pigeons began to flutter around the cabin, prompting a fellow passenger to attempt to catch it using his jacket.
Tom Caw, another passenger, recorded the bizarre scene after overhearing a fellow traveller inform a flight attendant about the pigeon on board. Shortly thereafter, the pilot announced to passengers that a “wildlife situation” had arisen and explained that he wasn’t equipped to handle it, which necessitated the assistance of additional crew members.
Subsequently, baggage handlers were summoned to capture the birds safely. However, as the plane began to taxi down the runway, a second pigeon appeared, further complicating the situation. The pilot had to return to the gate, where he contacted air traffic control regarding the unusual occurrence. During this communication, he humorously remarked, “You ready for this? There’s a pigeon on the airplane,” to which the air traffic controller responded incredulously that it was a first for him.
Once both pigeons were successfully removed, the flight could finally commence, albeit an hour behind schedule. Delta Airlines expressed their apologies for the delay caused by this unexpected avian fiasco.