Emergency landing in Bermuda: Passengers diverted by pig cargo
Passengers flying from Amsterdam to Mexico will remember this journey for a long time due to an emergency landing. "The pilots announced that they could not continue the flight and were landing at the nearest airport," wrote one of the passengers in an Instagram story. The reason was exceptionally shocking.
Friday, 13 December of this year, proved unlucky for nearly 300 people flying on a Boeing B787-9, operated by KLM, from Amsterdam to Mexico. Due to unexpected circumstances, they arrived at their destination only the next day.
Unexpected landing
"I had to make an emergency landing in Bermuda because of 14 metric tonnes of pigs," wrote Michał Dziedzic, editor of the portal Vibez.pl, in his Instagram story while travelling to Mexico.
"Flying somewhere over the middle of the ocean, we learnt from the main pilot that someone loaded 14 metric tonnes of pigs into the cargo and apparently in the wrong place because the smell reached the cockpit," the journalist explained via social media. As a result, the pilots had to wear oxygen masks and could not continue the flight. The emergency landing took place in Bermuda.
Shocking story
After safely landing at the airport in the British Overseas Territory, all passengers disembarked the plane and checked into a hotel around 1 AM GMT. Their flight to Mexico took place only the next day in the evening, which meant many passengers lost a whole day of holiday in a paradise location.
Meanwhile, the pigs that caused the unusual commotion were unloaded and placed safely on the island, where a vet took care of them.
"The Royal Gazette" emphasises that thanks to the cooperation between KLM and the local authorities of the islands, humane treatment of the animals and the comfort of the passengers were ensured. The local press highlighted that this event was an exceptional challenge, and that such situations are rare.
