A flight experienced a delay when an unauthorized passenger, without a ticket, managed to board the plane’s cabin, causing a commotion among the crew.

The unexpected guest, suspected to be a Eurasian tree sparrow, breached animal transportation regulations on a recent Cathay Pacific flight departing from Hong Kong International Airport to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The bird flew through the cabin, passing by luggage compartments while ground staff urgently communicated via walkie-talkies.

A man, possibly a passenger, wearing a white T-shirt, successfully captured the bird using a blanket and received applause as he escorted it through the cabin.

As a result of the incident, the Airbus A330 departed from Hong Kong approximately 50 minutes later than its scheduled departure time of 8:55 am. The flight reached Taiwan at around 11:10 am, about 45 minutes behind the original arrival time.

Online viewers found the footage amusing, with one person humorously commenting, “I believe I can fly,” and another suggesting it was an “alternative bird strike.” Cathay Pacific has been contacted for a statement regarding the incident.

This incident is not the first of its kind, as back in 2019, a starling surprised passengers in business class on a Singapore Airlines flight to London Heathrow. The bird, believed to have boarded in Singapore, emerged during the flight’s final hours, perching on a seat without drawing much attention.

Statistics reveal that bird-related incidents affect a significant number of air travelers annually. The International Civil Aviation Organisation reported over 270,000 wildlife strike incidents involving aircraft between 2016 and 2021, with most occurrences transpiring during take-off and landing due to birds being more prevalent at lower altitudes.