Pigeons Cause Hour Delay on Delta Flight

A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Madison, Wisconsin, was delayed for nearly an hour after two pigeons were discovered inside the aircraft cabin—one before departure, the other during taxiing. Passengers and baggage handlers worked together to safely capture and remove both birds, with the second causing a commotion as it flew through the cabin. The pilot radioed air traffic control, noting he had never faced such a situation, while passengers responded with a mix of panic and humor. Delta issued a public apology, commending the calm response of staff and passengers and apologizing for the delay. No injuries were reported. Passenger Tom Caw, who documented the incident, joked that the pigeons might have been seeking snacks on the short, foodless flight.