Pigs on a Plane: KLM flight makes emergency landing due to stench from 100 pigs in cargo hold

Passengers aboard KLM Flight KL685 finally reached Mexico City after an unexpected 26-hour delay caused by an unusual incident involving 100 live pigs in the cargo hold. The flight, which departed from Amsterdam, was diverted to Bermuda due to an unbearable stench emanating from the pigs that permeated the cabin and cockpit.

"I found out that the plane would make an emergency stop when the pilot announced it over the intercom, telling us that the reason was that a foul, unpleasant smell was coming into the cabin and was taking away oxygen and that he had headaches," passenger Fernando Ashby Díaz told Marca. Díaz added that the crew attempted to "purify the air but they couldn't."

Approximately six hours into the transatlantic flight, both passengers and crew noticed a very unpleasant smell spreading throughout the aircraft. The source was discovered to be 100 live pigs in the cargo hold emitting an unbearable stench. The pilot decided to divert the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda.

Upon landing, the passengers and crew were accommodated in local hotels. However, some passengers were dissatisfied with how the airline managed the situation. "The airline only supported us with lodging, but it was not clear support from KLM. There was never a crew member who could support us at any time," said passenger Juan Manuel González Huesca, according to Marca. "When we arrived at the airport, the first to leave the place was the crew; no one stayed," Díaz noted. "When we arrived at the hotel, the first to be given a room were the crew, not any of the passengers," he added.

While the human travelers settled into their accommodations, the pigs were placed under the care of a government veterinarian in a safe location on the island.

Skyport, the operator of L.F. Wade International Airport, addressed the unusual event. "Our team at Skyport is accustomed to managing all sorts of unusual situations, and today was no exception," a spokesperson commented, as reported by the New York Post. "These coordinated efforts reflect the island's commitment to caring for all visitors—whether they walk on two legs or trot on four legs," the spokesperson said, according to Business Insider.

The pigs continued their journey to Mexico City on a KLM Cargo plane the following day. The human passengers reboarded the aired-out plane and resumed their flight after the aircraft was thoroughly ventilated. The total delay amounted to over 26 hours, Dagbladet reported.

It remains unclear why the stench from the pigs was so intense in the cockpit and cabin. Die Welt noted that it is speculated the pigs may have been loaded in the wrong part of the plane, which allowed the odor to reach the cabin crew and passengers.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq