A cat named Mittens has made three flights in 24 hours after being forgotten on an Air New Zealand plane from Christchurch to Melbourne. The eight-year-old Maine Coon was left in the cargo hold, where she spent time with heated temperatures and lost weight but remained unharmed.
Mittens’ owner, Margo Neas, had booked her pet through a third-party carrier firm due to Air New Zealand’s policy of not accepting direct animal bookings. However, airport staff in Melbourne mistakenly thought Mittens was on the return flight back to Christchurch, causing confusion and distress for Neas.
Air New Zealand has apologized for the incident and promised to reimburse all travel costs. The airline is investigating how Mittens ended up in the cargo hold, with reports suggesting a stowed wheelchair may have obstructed a baggage handler’s view of her cage.
Mittens was finally reunited with her relieved owner, who said she “basically just ran into my arms” and provided a comforting cuddle.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70qn5yyw57o