Frenzied cat in cockpit forces airliner down



BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) Â? An SN Brussels airliner made an emergency landing
after an "agitated" passenger Â? a cat Â? got into the cockpit and attacked
the co-pilot, the airline said Tuesday.

The Monday flight from Brussels to Vienna, Austria, 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," according to an airline
statement.

"Once free, the animal proceeded to wander around the cabin," slipping into
the cockpit when meals were being delivered to the two-man flight crew, it
said.

"At this stage the animal became agitated and nervous," it said. An airline
spokesperson added that the cat scratched the co-pilot's arm.

The pilot decided to return to Brussels as a precaution, and the 58
passengers left Brussels two hours later on another flight.

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

"At no time throughout the incident was the passengers' security affected
in any way," it said.