Cats Lost Twice in as Many Years by This European Airline

Photo Credits: Aegean Airlines

The Greece-based Aegean Airlines now holds a very unique distinction of having lost cats on two separate occasions within two years. The most recent incident occurred when three cats, rescued by a newlywed couple from Crete, went missing after an Aegean Airlines flight to Paris. It was not explained why the cats were left behind in the aircraft’s hold in Paris. According to reports, the airline neither apologised nor offered an explanation to the couple regarding the incident. 

The newlywed couple in question, vet Bethany Mulcahy-Stephenson and her husband Adam, had taken the cats into their care in Crete and arranged for their transportation to Paris, where they intended to collect them. While en route, they received information that the airline had lost the animals. 

Although the cats had arrived in Paris, they were forgotten in the aircraft’s hold as it continued towards Thessaloniki. The couple feared they might never see their cats again and were concerned for 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. However, it later agreed to reroute them via Athens, this time allowing them to travel in the cabin with a handler. 

According to reports, the Greek airline has yet to issue an apology or provide any explanation as to why the cats were left in the hold of the aircraft. Aegean Airlines maintain that the cats were not unloaded immediately due to technical reasons, and they remained in care of the crew. In March 2024, the airline was also involved in a similar incident when a kitten went missing on a flight from Crete to Munich via Athens.