TAP Air Portugal grounded Airbus A321neo CS-TJR for several days after flight TP-1865 reached the Azores with damaged cages and 132 escaped hamsters moving through the aircraft’s cargo spaces. The animals were part of a commercial pet-shop shipment, not pets traveling with passengers. Crews eventually captured every hamster, and the empty aircraft returned to Lisbon for inspection.
What happened on the TAP flight?
TP-1865 flew from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada on November 13, 2024. The Airbus A321neo, registered CS-TJR, was carrying a shipment that included 132 hamsters along with ferrets and birds. After landing, baggage handlers found damaged transport cages and hamsters loose in the cargo hold.
The rodents scattered into cargo spaces and other difficult-to-reach areas of the aircraft. Reports describe a prolonged search rather than an incident in the passenger cabin; no cited account places the hamsters among passengers.
How the recovery unfolded
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 13, 2024 | TP-1865 arrived at Ponta Delgada and damaged cages and escaped hamsters were discovered. |
| November 13–17 | Ground and maintenance teams searched the aircraft. Reports said 116 had been caught by November 17, with 16 still loose at that point. |
| November 17 | After all the hamsters were captured, CS-TJR flew without passengers on special ferry flight TP9260 back to Lisbon, arriving at 13:27 local time. |
| After the return | TAP planned a deeper inspection before restoring the aircraft to normal passenger service. |
Correio da Manhã described the aircraft as held for five days. Counting from the November 13 arrival to the November 17 ferry flight, other reports characterize the grounding as roughly four to five days.
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Why was the Airbus grounded?
The immediate issue was containment: damaged cages had allowed the animals to escape, and crews had to make sure none remained inside the aircraft. A loose animal can also create a maintenance and sanitation problem in spaces that are not accessible during ordinary turnaround work.
Safety concerns included the possibility that rodents could reach wiring or other aircraft systems, which is why TAP planned a thorough inspection before carrying passengers again. The available reports do not confirm that the hamsters chewed wiring, damaged the structure, or caused any other specific aircraft damage. Those possibilities were described as concerns requiring inspection, not established findings.
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- Product Size:This hamster cage size is 6.7x6.2x6.7inches, suitable for small pets.Small hamster travel cage it comes in two colors, blue and brown
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Where did the aircraft fly?
The aircraft’s original route was Lisbon to Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Once the search ended, it returned empty to Lisbon on TP9260. Correio da Manhã reported the ferry flight as 1,452 kilometres; CBS News described the distance as 902 miles. Those figures refer to the passenger-free return leg, not the original service with travelers.
Were the hamsters in the passenger cabin?
No cited report says they entered the passenger cabin. The discovery was made in the cargo hold, and the subsequent search focused on cargo spaces and hard-to-reach areas of the aircraft. The shipment was commercial freight from a pet shop rather than an individual traveler’s animal.
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- Measures 20*18*16cm/7.8*7*6.24inch (L*W*H), giving your small pet plenty of space. Features an ergonomic handle for easy carrying whilst transporting your small animal. It’s suitable for small-sized rodents like gerbils, rats, mice, etc. (Max. load of 0.5kg/1.1lbs).
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What is confirmed—and what remains unknown?
- Confirmed: 132 hamsters were shipped on TP-1865; the aircraft was Airbus A321neo CS-TJR; the route was Lisbon–Ponta Delgada; cages were damaged; the aircraft was held for several days; all animals were recaptured; and the plane returned empty to Lisbon for inspection.
- Not established by the cited reports: the exact cause of the cage damage, whether any hamster reached a particular aircraft system, and whether any wiring or structural damage occurred.
- Official response: CBS News reported that TAP did not respond to its request for comment, and the available material does not include an official airline or regulator investigation statement.
What this incident shows about transporting small animals by air
Small mammals require containers that remain secure under loading, unloading and flight handling. For any future shipment, the practical checks are escape resistance, chew-resistant construction, ventilation, secure fasteners, absorbent bedding and acceptance by the specific airline and route. Those requirements vary by carrier and jurisdiction, so shippers must verify the current rules before booking.
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- 【Large Size But Foldable】Large Expand Size: 5.9*7*5.9 inch. Large capacity is big enough for hedgehog, hamster, squirrel, parrot, rat and squirrel etc small animals. The small pet carrier can be folded for easy carrying out and indoor storage with the the Foldable Size: 1.6*10.6*7.9 inch.
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