Plane returns to airport after rat seen

AN AIR India plane flying to London was forced to return to Mumbai after passengers spotted a rat on board, the airline said.

Although the animal was not found, the pilot returned to Mumbai because of passenger safety concerns.

Passengers were later flown to London in a different aircraft.

The plane would be fumigated and checked before being returned to service, an official said.

Maintenance workers would have to make sure that the rat did not damage equipment or chew any wires and the plane is certified to be rodent-free.

Another Air India suffered a mishaps when a pilot aborted take-off from Amritsara after a stray dog ran on to the runway.