Stowaway Rat on KLM Flight to Aruba Forces Cancellation, Strands Passengers

December 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM•2 min read

A KLM flight to Aruba was cancelled due to a stowaway rat discovery, disrupting over 250 passengers.

Key Points

1A KLM flight to the Caribbean was cancelled on December 10 after a rat was discovered in the cabin over the ocean.
2Over 250 passengers were affected by the cancellation, requiring overnight accommodation and alternative flights.
3Rodents on aircraft pose serious safety risks, as evidenced by a recent IndiGo flight delay due to a rat discovery.

A KLM flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Aruba and Bonaire on December 10 experienced an unusual incident when a rat was spotted scurrying around the cabin while the aircraft was over the ocean. Passengers observed the rodent on curtain rails and overhead bins, with a viral video capturing their reactions. Despite the discovery, the pilot continued the flight to Aruba as planned, given the aircraft's position over water.

Upon arrival in Aruba, the subsequent leg of the flight to Bonaire and then back to Amsterdam was cancelled. This decision affected over 250 passengers who were either continuing to Bonaire or returning to Amsterdam. KLM provided overnight accommodation and arranged alternative flights for those impacted. A KLM spokesperson confirmed the incident as "very exceptional," emphasizing that passenger and crew safety necessitated the cancellation for a thorough cleaning of the aircraft.

The airline stated they did not know how the rat boarded the aircraft. Rodents on planes pose significant safety risks, including the potential to chew through critical wiring. This incident follows a similar event in September when an IndiGo Airlines flight from Kanpur to Delhi was delayed by three hours after a rat was spotted before departure, leading to the evacuation of 140 passengers as a precautionary measure.