A Cat Forgotten in an Airplane Hold Travels Three Times Between New Zealand and Australia in 24 Hours

🕗 News Published on

22 Jan 2025

Thomas M

A cat named Mittens embarked on an unintended adventure, traveling three times between New Zealand and Australia within just 24 hours. The incident occurred on January 13, 2025, when Mittens’ cage was mistakenly left in the cargo hold of an Air New Zealand flight, as reported by CNN.

Mittens and her owner, Margo Neas, had boarded a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia, a journey typically lasting around 7 hours and 30 minutes. However, upon arriving in Melbourne, Mittens was nowhere to be found.

Mittens, an 8-year-old Maine Coon, traveled three times in a row between New Zealand and Australia.

The Hidden Cage Mishap

Margo waited in the freight area for nearly three hours before alerting Air New Zealand staff. Unfortunately, by the time the error was discovered, the plane had already departed back to Christchurch, with Mittens still on board. The cat’s cage had been hidden behind a wheelchair in the cargo hold, causing bag handlers to overlook it during unloading.

Upon realizing the situation, the flight’s pilot ensured the cargo hold was heated to keep the 8-year-old Maine Coon comfortable. Once back in Christchurch, a specialized animal transport company retrieved Mittens and placed her on a direct flight to Melbourne, bringing the unexpected journey to an end.

A Happy Ending

Despite the ordeal, Mittens’ story concluded happily. Margo was reunited with her pet, who had lost a little weight but was otherwise unharmed. "Normally, Mittens isn’t very cuddly, but this time she was like never before," Margo shared with the media.

Air New Zealand has since issued a formal apology and pledged to reimburse all expenses related to the incident, ensuring Mittens’ unintentional adventure doesn’t happen again.