Stowaway pigeons cause chaos in passenger cabin on Delta plane

UPI ^ | 5/29/25 | Ben Hooper

[DallasBiff]

May 29 (UPI) -- Pigeon pandemonium erupted on a Delta flight from Minnesota to Wisconsin when two birds took flight in the passenger cabin.

Tom Caw, a passenger aboard Delta Flight 2348 from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wis., said the first pigeon flew through the passenger cabin during preparations for take-off on Saturday.

The bird was removed by baggage handlers, but a second pigeon came out of hiding once the plane left the terminal.

"It was on the floor, strutting down the aisle. Somebody near me reached down to try and grab it, and that's when the chaos happened because the bird just launched into flight," Caw told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Caw recorded the moment a passenger nearly captured the pigeon with his jacket. The plane returned to the terminal and the pigeon was taken outside by the same baggage handlers who caught the first avian.

[sauropod]

Maybe you could speak to ‘em in pigeon English.

[bunkerhill7]

No. ..they were Passenger Pigeons

[Ezekiel]

You never know what you might.. catch on a flight.

Watch out for bird flew.

To paraphrase Barbara Billlingsly,

“Oh stewardess — I speak pigeon.”

[Honorary Serb]

I remember sparrows on one flight, but never pigeons!

[SunkenCiv]

They shouldn’t let magicians use carry-ons.

[Ezekiel]

Heh, at the very least they should check their dovecoats..

[MikelTackNailer]

Police believe they've narrowed down who may have brought the pigeons aboard:

And are asking the public for information that may help identify these suspects.
The possibility of a Coo de'tat hasn't been ruled out.

[SunkenCiv]

What does the airline expect — they’ve never heard of passenger pigeons?

Probably should have checked for this one first...