TRAVEL TALES

FLYING EEL

Two South Koreans were arrested after being caught trying to smuggle about 252,000 live European eels (worth over US$200,000) out of Croatia.

STRANDED AND FROZEN

After a passenger became ill on board, a United Airlines flight from New York to Hong Kong was forced to land at a remote military airfield in Canada. However, the aircraft door became frozen and couldn’t close completely again, leaving more than 250 passengers stranded for more than 15 hours in freezing temperatures.

GUN IN THE SKY

A Delta passenger flying from Atlanta to Japan accidentally carried a loaded gun on board after airport security checkpoints failed to detect the firearm. A TSA spokesman said it was because “standard procedures were not followed”... but did not elaborate.

FEATHERY STOWAWAY

A mynah bird was discovered in the business class cabin of a 14hour Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to London after 12 hours, though it remains unclear how the critter made it on board and where it was hiding before being found.

LAVATORY NIGHTMARE

An EVA Air stewardess was asked by an overweight male passenger to help him use the toilet and clean him afterwards. The passenger claimed he couldn’t do it himself due to recent hand surgery.