Flight diverted--check out why

[MJZiggy]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15065046/

Updated: 4:29 p.m. ET Sept 29, 2006
INNSBRUCK, Austria - It wasn’t “Snakes on a Plane,” but an Austrian Airlines jet made an unscheduled stop Friday after a passenger sneaked a hamster aboard and the rodent escaped.

The flight from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to the southern Austrian city of Graz made a stop in Innsbruck so officials could search for the hamster and make sure it didn’t gnaw through any wiring, the airline said.

It said the flight was diverted after a passenger notified the crew that he had brought a hamster aboard and had lost track of it. Passengers were ordered off the plane, and some were taken by bus to Graz. It was not immediately clear how many people were aboard.

By midafternoon, a search of the aircraft still had not turned up any sign of the hamster, authorities said.

Austrian Airlines said the jet would remain grounded until the hamster was found “because it can’t take off that way for safety reasons.”

[CyclonePackFan]

Not surprising...that little bastard could probably chew through a couple of important wires if he wanted to. I'm sure there'd be no greater experience as a pilot than to lose aileron or elevator control mid-flight because of a damn hamster.

[MJZiggy]

I just can't fathom that 1. someone got this thing onto a flight, 2. it got out and 3. a hamster managed to ground an airliner indefinitely. I mean I fully understand the concern, but a 4 oz. hamster grounded a giant airlplane. I just found the whole David vs. Goliath angle funny.

[CyclonePackFan]

I just can't fathom that 1. someone got this thing onto a flight, 2. it got out and 3. a hamster managed to ground an airliner indefinitely. I mean I fully understand the concern, but a 4 oz. hamster grounded a giant airlplane. I just found the whole David vs. Goliath angle funny.

true

[mraynrand]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

[Fosco33]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

I had the same thought - think Southpark episode w/ the Slave

[the_idle_threat]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

[oregonpackfan]

Perhaps our Department of Homeland Security will launch a full-scale study on how to prevent the threat of hamsters against our national security!

OPF

[CyclonePackFan]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

I had the same thought - think Southpark episode w/ the Slave

Lemmiwinks NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

[the_idle_threat]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

I had the same thought - think Southpark episode w/ the Slave

No room for a hamster, since that's the only way to get beverages aboard these days.

[mraynrand]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

I had the same thought - think Southpark episode w/ the Slave

No room for a hamster, since that's the only way to get beverages aboard these days.

I guess that rules out the Super Big Gulp.

[the_idle_threat]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

I had the same thought - think Southpark episode w/ the Slave

No room for a hamster, since that's the only way to get beverages aboard these days.

I guess that rules out the Super Big Gulp.

For most folks! How often does the Goatse guy fly?

[Tarlam!]

I'm a little worried about how the hamster was smuggled aboard. Maybe you don't want to find it.

Cause it's not made of metal or plastic explosives....

[mraynrand]

Follow up on that story?:

Woman Arrested For Hamster Neglect

POSTED: 7:40 am EDT October 2, 2006
UPDATED: 7:45 am EDT October 2, 2006


JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Police arrested a woman for neglecting hamsters at her home after her roommate called authorities, police said Sunday.

Sgt. Rick Larson said police arrested the 23-year-old on 39 counts each of two charges: failing to provide food and drink and failing to provide proper shelter to animals.

The Rock County Humane Society removed 33 live and six dead hamsters.

The woman was already is facing charges of failing to provide shelter and food to a Great Dane removed from her home in August.


-----

"Authorities also suspect that another Hamster is missing and may have been smuggled aboard an airliner last week. Airport crew have been on the lookout for a brown smelly hamster for several days. 'At least the hamster was provided shelter,' one worker was overheard saying."

[BallHawk]

Keep in mind, we're talking about hamsters here.