A Delta Airlines flight turned into an unexpected wildlife rescue mission last weekend after not one, but two pigeons found their way onto a plane preparing to depart Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in the US for Wisconsin.
In a chaotic scene captured on video and shared widely across social media and news outlets, passengers scrambled to capture a rogue pigeon flapping wildly through the cabin. One flyer bravely attempted to catch the bird using an article of clothing, as others shrieked and ducked for cover in the cramped space.
The pilot announced over the PA system: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a wildlife situation on the plane.”
BIRD ON BOARD: Passenger Tom Caw says flight DL2348 at @mspairport had an unexpected stowaway — a pigeon without a boarding pass. 🐦✈️ #wcco
🎥 Tom Caw pic.twitter.com/KrCr8FQCNt
— Frankie McLister (@FrankieMcLister) May 27, 2025
“It was complete chaos,” passenger Tom Caw was quoted as saying by WCCO News. “You just don’t expect to hear the words ‘wildlife situation’ when you’re boarding a commercial flight.”
Caw recalled that everything appeared normal when he first stepped onto the aircraft. But the situation quickly unravelled when another passenger approached a nearby flight attendant with a bizarre concern: “I think there’s a pigeon on this plane.”
As the plane began to taxi, a second stowaway bird suddenly took flight, triggering a second round of confusion and chaos. One man leapt into action, using his jacket to try and trap the startled bird mid-air.
“The woman next to me was clearly shaken,” Caw said. “She turned to me and said, ‘Oh, I’m going to need a free wine after this — definitely a free wine.”
The winged intruders caused a brief delay as the plane was forced to return to the gate. A Delta baggage handler eventually removed both pigeons from the aircraft — one caught calmly beneath a seat, the other after its dramatic aerial appearance.
In a statement, Delta Airlines acknowledged the unusual delay and praised the quick response from both crew and passengers. “Delta appreciates the careful actions of our people and our customers,” a spokesperson said. “We apologise to our customers for the delay in their travel.”
While the flight resumed without further incident, the impromptu avian adventure left travellers with a tale they won’t soon forget.
