Three cats rescued by a newlywed couple from Crete have gone missing after an Aegean Airlines flight to Paris, according to a report by The Guardian. It was not explained why the three cats were left behind in the aircraft’s hold in Paris. According to the report, the airline neither apologized nor offered an explanation to the couple regarding the incident.
This marks the second incident of cats disappearing on the Greek airline’s flights in two years. Last year, the carrier lost a kitten on a flight from Crete to Munich, Germany.
A Story With A Happy Ending
According to the report, Vet Bethany Mulcahy-Stephenson and her husband, Adam, had rescued the cats in Crete and arranged their transport to Paris, where the couple planned to collect them. But while traveling to Calais, they were informed by a contact that Aegean Airlines had lost the kittens. Although the cats had reached Paris, they were never unloaded and were reportedly forgotten in the hold as the plane continued on to Thessaloniki.
After hearing the news, the couple feared they might never see them again, worrying about their safety in the cold, noisy hold without food or water. Initially, the airline stated that it would take two days for the cats to return on another flight to Paris, but later agreed to reroute them through Athens, this time allowing them to travel in the cabin with a handler. Speaking to The Guardian, Mulcahy-Stephenson said:
“I was shining the torch in there to count them all 10 times. I was so relieved to see them and have them in the car, safe. When they arrived, they were absolutely traumatized, they wouldn’t eat, we had them in the emergency vet.”
Aegean Airlines Gave No Apology, Couple Claimed
According to the report, the Greek national airline neither apologized for the incident nor explained why the three kittens were left in the aircraft’s hold. The couple described the cats as “traumatized,” while the airline maintained that the animals were never missed or forgotten at any point.
In a statement to the publication, Aegean Airlines said that the cats were never lost but were not unloaded right away because of “operational reasons.” The Greek airline explained that the kittens remained under the crew’s care throughout the journey and were reunited with their owners later that same evening. The crew provided them with food and water during the flight, ensuring constant supervision.
In March 2024, Aegean Airlines issued a statement after a kitten went missing on a flight from Chania Airport in Crete to Munich via Athens. According to a report by the Greek Reporter, the passenger arrived at Chania Airport with her kitten, Rodri, secured in a pet carrier and handed him over to airport staff. But during the stopover in Athens, she discovered the carrier had been damaged and Rodri had escaped, with no sign of him anywhere.
Pets Allowed In Aegean’s Aircraft Cabins
Aegean Airlines allows cats and dogs to travel in the cabin, but under certain rules. Each passenger may bring one pet, or two of the same species if they are familiar with each other and their combined weight, including the pet carrier, does not exceed 17.6 pounds (8 kg). Pets must also be clean, healthy, non-aggressive, not sedated, and well-behaved.
Pet owners must book their pets in advance with Aegean Airlines, either online or via the call center. Since each flight has a limited number of pets allowed, reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Travelers are advised to choose a window seat, as exit row and bulkhead seats are not available for passengers flying with pets.
Pet policies differ between airlines. Some carriers do not allow pets in the cabin at all, permitting them only in the aircraft’s hold.
Credits: Aegean Airline
