Rat scare grounds AI aircraft

Even as the volcanic ash over Europe is delaying several flights to and from the region

Even as the volcanic ash over Europe is delaying several flights to and from the region,a Delhi-London Air India flight was held up for three hours on Wednesday morning due to the presence of a rather unusual passenger on board,a rodent perhaps.

While the rodent could not be found in a search operation that lasted over two hours,Air India officials said it was a foul smell in the catering unit of flight AI-115 that made them hold up the flight.

The flight was scheduled to take off at 6.40 am on Wednesday,but it had to be delayed as the catering unit smelt a dead rat,officials said. Though the rat could not be found,the 129-odd passengers were made to shift to another aircraft,which finally left the IGIAs Terminal 3 at 9.50 am.

AI-115 was delayed by over three hours because there was a foul smell from the catering area, said Kamaljeet Ratan,Air India spokesperson.

The rodent was not found till late in the evening,dead or alive.

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