If you're like I am, anymore I assume that one of my international flights will be either delayed or canceled. In the past, perhaps five or six years ago, we could generally assume that all of our flights abroad would be on schedule and occur on time. Not any more.
Today, many airlines tell us that the problem for a delay or cancellation is attributed to "weather," so that they have no responsibility for paying for hotel rooms or meal vouchers, when in fact the true cause for the delay or cancellation may be "mechanical."
I've been on occasional flights where there has been a bomb threat, the death of passenger, an occasional incident of "air rage" and other exceptional cases.
Yesterday (September 5), though, Nepal Airlines flight attendants reported that they had spotted a mouse running around on a Bangkok-bound Boeing 757 flight from Kathmandu (before departure), prompting the passengers to be evacuated, the flight canceled and the aircraft taken to a hanger so it could be demoused.
COMMENT: According to the airline, it is believed that the extra passenger boarded the flight through a food catering truck. After an exhaustive search by crew members, the pilot finally decided to cancel the flight in the interest of not having hysterical passengers on the flight to the Land of Smiles. The mouse has yet to be found; the airline has assured its passengers that the aircraft will not be used until the four-legged jet-setter has been found.
Today, many airlines tell us that the problem for a delay or cancellation is attributed to "weather," so that they have no responsibility for paying for hotel rooms or meal vouchers, when in fact the true cause for the delay or cancellation may be "mechanical."
I've been on occasional flights where there has been a bomb threat, the death of passenger, an occasional incident of "air rage" and other exceptional cases.
Yesterday (September 5), though, Nepal Airlines flight attendants reported that they had spotted a mouse running around on a Bangkok-bound Boeing 757 flight from Kathmandu (before departure), prompting the passengers to be evacuated, the flight canceled and the aircraft taken to a hanger so it could be demoused.
COMMENT: According to the airline, it is believed that the extra passenger boarded the flight through a food catering truck. After an exhaustive search by crew members, the pilot finally decided to cancel the flight in the interest of not having hysterical passengers on the flight to the Land of Smiles. The mouse has yet to be found; the airline has assured its passengers that the aircraft will not be used until the four-legged jet-setter has been found.
