Cat Forgotten On Plane Makes 3 Trips Between Two Countries In A Day

The Maine coon cat was travelling to Australia's Melbourne on a one-way ticket as the owner family moved base to the country from Christchurch in New Zealand.

A cat had to make two unscheduled trips between two countries after it was left on the plane by mistake. She had to reportedly undertake two additional trips between the two countries after the owners found out that the cat had not been unloaded from the plane cargo hold after the intended one-way trip.

According to a report by news agency Associated Press, the Maine coon cat was travelling to Australia's Melbourne on a one-way ticket as the owner family moved base to the country from Christchurch in New Zealand. On reaching Melbourne, they waited for Mittens, their 8-year-old cat, but she did not come. After three hours, the AP report said, quoting owner Margo Neas, they got to know from the ground staff that the Air New Zealand plane had returned to Christchurch with the cat still on board.

The incident took place on January 13.

3 Trips In 24 Hours

Neas told AP that the family was anxious about Mittens as the return trip involved nearly 7 and a half hours in the air.

“It was not a great start to our new life in Melbourne...,” she was quoted as saying.

She said the Air New Zealand pilot was told about the cat on board and he turned on the heating in the cargo hold so Mittens could be comfortable. It was a stowed wheelchair that had apparently obscured the view of Mittens’ cage for the baggage handler who was supposed to offload it.

In a relief for the family, the pet moving company hired to arrange the travel for Mitten met her when the plane reached Christchurch, and they put her back on the flight back to Melbourne.

This time, it was ensured that the cat was offloaded from the plane at the airport.

According to the report, Mittens weighed less on return but there was no health concerns otherwise.  

"...we’re just so absolutely and utterly relieved to have her back," Neas was quoted as saying. She said though Mittens is not a very affectionate pet otherwise, "she basically just ran into my arms and just snuggled up in here and just did the biggest cuddles of all time."

In a statement, the AP report said, Air New Zealand apologised to the family for the distress, and assured that it will reimburse the entire costs incurred on Mittens’ travel.

“We’ll work closely with our ground handler in Melbourne to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” spokesperson Alisha Armstrong was quoted as saying.