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.