It may not be as bad as snakes on a plane, but a rat in an enclosed aircraft cabin is not a welcome sight. Alaska Airlines (AS) Flight 676 from Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Denver International Airport (DEN) encountered just such an incident on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 7:40 a.m. PST as the Boeing 737-700 was about to depart, as reported by KOMO News on Sunday, February 13, 2011.
The aircraft immediately returned to the gate, and passengers were transferred to a Boeing 737-800, which resulted in a delay of 79 minutes, according to FlightStats.
Such incidents are considered unusual. One airline official called it "a very rare occurrence". It required that the plane be taken out of service and turned over to a professional fumigator, who was called upon to make sure the rodent was gone before any other passengers were allowed back on board.
Mechanics also had to verify that no damage was caused to the aircraft by the animal.
The Seattle based carrier currently operates a fleet of 116 all Boeing 737 aircraft, in various models, with 25 more on order.
At various times, animals have gotten loose inside a plane's cabin, including dogs, and even a small crocodile, but they were all brought on board by their owners. Rats are present on the grounds of many airports, as well as in the natural environment. They are opportunists who seek out sources of food.
Historically, sailing ships have been plagued by marauding rodents. Any modern vessels tied to a dock have shields on their ropes to prevent rats and other pests from climbing aboard. Aircraft, however, are especially vulnerable to such invasions, as they sometimes stand for long periods on an airport's tarmac. The animals may be after first class meals, as there is very little else of edible value served on domestic airlines these days.
source: http://www.examiner.com/
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