When you’re a pilot, being alert to potential hazards is a constant necessity. Even though flying is generally safe, any unusual occurrence needs to be addressed swiftly. Pilots must maintain a cool and composed demeanor to handle unexpected situations efficiently.
One unexpected hazard not typically on a pilot’s radar is an animal on the plane’s wing. So, encountering this would naturally be quite startling. However, a pilot from French Guiana proved his mettle when he discovered a real-life cat on his plane’s wing and managed the situation like a seasoned professional.
The pilot noticed a terrified cat clinging to the wing of his plane. Staying calm, he safely landed the aircraft, much to the relief of the frightened feline. The entire incident was caught on video, resulting in one of the most captivating clips we’ve seen in some time.
This extraordinary video was first shared on YouTube by pilot Romain Jantot in 2015 and has since garnered an impressive 28 million views. It’s easy to see why; it’s a truly unique and riveting watch!
Filmed at the Club ULM aviation school in Kourou, French Guiana, the video begins with footage of the pilot and a female passenger as they take off. Everything seems normal until, out of the corner of our eye, we spot something unexpected – a cat emerging from an enclosed area of the right wing, looking absolutely petrified!
There’s a brief moment of suspense as we hope the pilot notices the cat. Fortunately, he does. He glances up at the right wing, does a double take, and sees the adventurous cat hanging on. Remarkably, he remains completely calm and immediately begins preparing for an emergency landing.
In the video’s caption, the pilot explains:
“The cat was INSIDE the wing, not on it. She was actually pretty safe in there; the danger was if she wanted to get down to reach us.”
He also mentions how he advised the woman passenger on the best way to keep the cat safe:
“I told her not to reach for the cat. I told her not to move at all actually. I trusted the cat to not move if we didn’t try to reach for her.”
Thanks to the pilot’s quick thinking, he successfully lands the plane while ensuring the cat’s safety. Once the plane is on the ground, the cat is removed from the wing and seems immensely relieved to be back on solid ground.
The pilot humorously concludes in the caption:
“For your information, the cat is fine – it continues with its role as club mascot.”
These poor kitties were rescued from an animal cruelty case where they were starved, locked in cages with inches of feces, and received no water or food. Now, these cats need your help!
We can only imagine the cat used up a couple of its nine lives on that adventurous flight! Check out the thrilling video below.