Mouse Attack Delays Flight Out Of JFK

The animals scored another point against the humans at JFK this past Sunday. Reportedly a mouse (eek!) was running rampant around a Delta aircraft waiting to depart for London. Upon being spotted, the captain refused to operate the flight, "fearing the rodent might gnaw through some critical wiring and put the entire aircraft at risk high over the Atlantic." And now we have a new reason to fear flying.

The 300 passengers were evacuated, and ultimately delayed in their travels for nearly 4 hours. At press time, there was no word on whether or not the mouse was smuggling a Junior's cheesecake.

Animals certainly enjoy flocking to JFK — with turtles, runaway dogs, feral cats and of course those pesky geese all making return appearances in the recent past. Speaking of feral cats, there may be a solution to that mouse problem here...

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on October 22, 2009 10:58 AM

Comments [rss]

annaf

I was on this flight and it was one woman who was frightened and another who was convinced she also saw the mouse. I knew as soon as they started making a big deal to the flight attendants about it that we were all doomed. I think the pilot was just trying to cover himself. What a mouse could have done, I'm not sure, but I would have been willing to share my seat with it if it meant getting to Heathrow 4 hours earlier than I did.

thefacts

Got to hand it to gothamist.

You fok got to have the funniest photos on the internet.

Where'd you find that photo of Mickey flying a plane?

I actually, literally LOLd

farleft

I'm sick and tired of these motherf-in' mice on this motherf-in' plane!

mcaliban

"Upon being spotted, the captain refused to operate the flight..."

Dangling participle here! Sounds like the captain was very shy or wishing to remain incognito ....

from an English teacher trying to be helpful.

FJF

Could this be related to the absolutely filthy conditions of the airplanes nowadays?

Spirit of 76

Speaking of feral cats, there may be a solution to that mouse problem here...

It could be the solution to several problems. In addition to the mouse and bird problems, it could relieve overcrowding in no-kill shelters and reduce the need for euthanasia in others. Just spay and neuter the unwanted cats then let them loose near the airports.

zodak

i remember when mighty mouse flew on his own power. ever since he started snorting flower petals, he flies coach. so sad.

oinonio

Well, that's why we need snakes on the plane...

Mr. Shankly

win

ProcedureTurn

The pilot let it loose. He wanted to get puylled from the flight after being too hung over to fly from a heavy night of drinking with over the hill FAs.

lightsformunny

maybe someone brought a cheesecake from Junior's onboard

hotstepper

how dare they assume that the mouse would ever try to sabotage the flight. just another case of racial profiling if you ask me. the race of mice will not tolerate this!

wac0202

one of these, not "this". geez.

wac0202

If it were actually possible for a mouse to gnaw through one of this, wouldn't it make more sense to have some sort of protective coating on the wiring. I mean, this is only one that they happened to see....

jlocke

Cable protection is heavy and expensive, especially for fire retardant sheaths, especially considering the miles of wiring on an aircraft. Many accidents have been traced to electrical sparks from wires that became exposed from poor installation or mechanical vibration. The capital was right for delaying the flight, however it didn't say if the plane was checked out or not.