Cat in cockpit grounds plane

A BELGIAN airliner was forced to make an emergency landing after an agitated passenger - a cat - got into the cockpit and attacked the co-pilot.

The SN Brussels flight from the Belgian capital to Vienna had been in the air about 20 minutes when “it was noticed” that a passenger’s pet had escaped from its cage, “although it is not yet clear how”, a statement from the airline said yesterday.

“Once free, the animal proceeded to wander around the cabin,” slipping into the cockpit when meals were being delivered to the flight crew.

“At this stage the animal became agitated and nervous,” the statement said. A spokeswoman added that the cat scratched the co-pilot’s arm.

The pilot decided to return to Brussels as a precaution and the 58 passengers later departed on another flight.

The cat had been checked in Norway in an internationally approved flight transport bag, but the airline said it may change its procedures for pets once it concludes its investigation.

The airline also said that “at no time” was the “passengers’ security affected” by Monday’s incident.