Cat causes chaos in cockpit

BRUSSELS – A SN Brussels airliner made an emergency landing after an “agitated” passenger – a cat – got into the cockpit and attacked the co-pilot, the airline said.

The Monday flight from Brussels to Vienna, Austria, had been in the air about 20 minutes when “it was noticed” that a passenger’s pet had escaped from its cage, “although it is not yet clear how”, according to an airline statement. “Once free, the animal proceeded to wander around the cabin,” slipping into the cockpit when meals were being delivered to the two-man flight crew, it said.”At this stage the animal became agitated and nervous,” it said.An airline spokeswoman added that the cat scratched the co-pilot’s arm.The pilot decided to return to Brussels as a precaution, and the 58 passengers left Brussels two hours later on another flight.The cat had been checked in Oslo, Norway, in an internationally approved flight transport bag.”At no time throughout the incident was the passengers’ security affected in any way,” it said.- Nampa-AP”Once free, the animal proceeded to wander around the cabin,” slipping into the cockpit when meals were being delivered to the two-man flight crew, it said.”At this stage the animal became agitated and nervous,” it said.An airline spokeswoman added that the cat scratched the co-pilot’s arm.The pilot decided to return to Brussels as a precaution, and the 58 passengers left Brussels two hours later on another flight.The cat had been checked in Oslo, Norway, in an internationally approved flight transport bag.”At no time throughout the incident was the passengers’ security affected in any way,” it said.- Nampa-AP