Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport might be closed to all flights with the exception of humanitarian emergencies, but cats are not noted for their strict adherence to human rules. On Sunday, airport workers were surprised to note a cat sunning itself in the cockpit of an El Al 737.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Immediately after the feline visitor was snapped on the control console, airport workers called in help to have it removed. El Al personnel who entered the grounded plane realized that the cat had caused considerable damage to the aircraft, having clawed and broken some of the furnishings and plastic surfaces in the cockpit.
The last time this aircraft flew was on Jan. 24, when it landed in Israel from Dubai. A day later, Israel shut down air traffic, and most El Al planes, as well as planes belonging to other airlines, have been grounded.
By the time the workers were on board, the cat had left the cockpit. Eventually, they found the animal, which appeared to be healthy, and delivered it to animal care services.
It is unclear how the cat found its way on board, although there is a possibility that it jumped onto the plane during maintenance work.
This was not the first time that a cat has been found on an El Al plane without a ticket. Approximately three months ago, a cat was found on an El Al aircraft in Hong Kong, leading the plane to be grounded for two entire days until it could be found, as the law does not allow aircraft to take off with animals roaming freely on board.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
