Sugar glider sneaks out from hand baggage on Chinese flight causing chaos

A China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai to Jinan faced a delay on Monday (June 10) after a passenger's hidden sugar glider escaped within the cabin.

The small sugar glider – resembling a flying squirrel – got loose on a China Eastern Airlines flight, hiding in the cabin and ultimately forcing passengers to temporarily disembark the plane.

According to Shanghai Police International Airport Branch, “On a flight from Shanghai to Jinan on June 10, 2024, a passenger surnamed Guo (female, 34 years old) violated the regulations and took a pet sugar glider on board the plane.”

“The pet escaped in the cabin and was captured by other passengers,” the statement read.

The incident was reported on flight MU5599 from Shanghai’s Hongqiao International Airport.

Videos posted on social media showa flight attendant kneeling on the ground and looking for the furry escapee.

The situation escalated as all passengers had to disembark and wait at the terminal for the critter's capture. Social media was abuzz with videos of frustrated passengers negotiating with airline staff.

The police said the flight had been delayed “due to safety issues” and that the miniature possum’s owner had been taken into custody.

“Currently, Guo has been placed under administrative detention by the police in accordance with the law for her illegal behavior of disrupting order on public transportation,” the police statement said.

The flight departed just over an hour after its scheduled time, arriving at Ji’nan’s Yaoqiang Airport shortly before midnight, 62 minutes after it had originally been due to land.

According to local media, the airline has not yet offered compensation or issued an apology to passengers.

(With inputs from agencies)