Flight postponement in Minneapolis due to unexpected avian guests boarding the Delta aircraft.
Minneapolis, MN — Delta Air Lines experienced an unusual incident over the weekend when two pigeons boarded a flight from Minneapolis to Madison, Wisconsin, causing a delay and a return to the gate.
The airline confirmed the avian intrusion, revealing that it postponed a flight on Saturday due to the unexpected passengers. A passenger, Tom Caw, captured video footage of another traveler using his jacket to catch one of the birds. Caw reported that the flight was required to return to the gate twice due to birds flying inside the cabin.
The first bird was successfully captured by a ground crew during the initial return. However, a second attempt was necessary, with a passenger stepping forward to assist. According to Caw, the crew member informed him that it was the second time such an incident happened for the pilot, with the first occurrence being half an hour earlier. Delta noted that the flight was delayed for 56 minutes due to the birds.
Delta Air Lines expressed appreciation for the quick actions of crew members and passengers in resolving the situation, stating: "Delta appreciates the careful actions of our people and our customers to safely remove two birds from the aircraft prior to departure and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel."
This incident was not an isolated occurrence for Delta over Memorial Day weekend. Another flight, originating from Detroit and bound for Los Angeles, diverted to Minneapolis due to a sick dog on Monday night. Veterinary assistance was provided, and a medical team met the plane upon arrival, leading to a 2 1/2 hour delay. Delta stressed its commitment to the safety of passengers and pets, stating, "The safety of our customers and people comes before everything else at Delta."
Although animal-related incidents on Delta flights are relatively rare, they have become more frequent in recent years. According to reports, there was an 84% increase in cabin animal incidents from 2016 to 2017. Diversions for animal emergencies are less common compared to medical emergencies involving human passengers. Nevertheless, such incidents pose significant operational challenges, including costs and disruptions. Liability and regulatory considerations regarding pet-related incidents are ongoing subjects of debate.
- A Microsoft employee based in Seattle recently shared an article about a notable increase in business travel for general-news journalists, citing the high number of animal-related incidents on flights, such as the recent Delta flight delay due to two pigeons.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has announced that it will conduct a study on the effects of wildlife interference on aviation safety, following the series of incidents on Delta Air Lines, including the flight delays due to pigeons and a diverted flight because of a sick dog.
- In response to the recent increase in animal-related incidents disrupting their flights, Delta Airlines has announced a partnership with the Seattle Humane Society to provide training for crew members on handling such situations, aiming to enhance passenger lifestyle and travel experience.
- The Seattle Times ran an opinion piece commenting on the frequent animal-related incidents on Delta flights, proposing stricter government regulations and stronger enforcement of current pet travel guidelines to help mitigate these disruptions and reduce accidents in air travel.
