132 hamsters break loose aboard flight in Portugal, triggering four-day hunt

An Airbus A321neo operated by TAP Air Portugal faced an unusual crisis when 132 hamsters reportedly escaped from their cages in the cargo hold, triggering a four-day grounding of the aircraft.

- Vihanya Rakshika

You may have heard of snakes on a plane, but have you heard about the hamster getaway aboard a flight?

The rodent rebellion unfolded during a Nov 13 flight from Lisbon - where TAP Air Portugal is headquartered - to the Azores, where the animals were being transported to a pet store, CBS News reported on Nov 19.

According to Portuguese news platform Observador, the hamsters were part of a consignment that included other animals such as birds and ferrets.