In a bizarre incident that left passengers shocked and social media buzzing, Delta Flight 2348 experienced two unexpected delays—not due to weather, mechanical failure, or crew shortages—but because of two uninvited feathered guests.
The curious case of the pigeons aboard a commercial flight has since become a viral sensation, and perhaps one of the strangest delays in recent aviation memory. The chaotic yet oddly humorous event took place on a Wisconsin-bound Delta Airlines plane, leaving travelers with a story they’ll likely never forget.
A Feathered Commotion in the Cabin
The drama began shortly after boarding at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Passengers had settled into their seats on Delta Flight 2348, a routine evening flight headed to Madison, Wisconsin. That routine, however, was soon shattered when a flurry of feathers captured everyone’s attention—a pigeon had somehow found its way onto the aircraft and was fluttering through the cabin.
As surprised passengers looked on in confusion and amusement, one traveler took it upon himself to try and catch the bird using his jacket. The moment, filled with screams, laughter, and shouted suggestions, quickly turned the aircraft into a scene resembling a wildlife rescue operation. Videos taken from multiple angles by passengers quickly went viral, with one clip showing a man leaping from his seat, swinging his coat at the bird as it flew past startled onlookers.
One of the passengers, Tom Caw, who later posted videos of the ordeal to social media, described the surreal moment. “The pilot gets on and says, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we have a wildlife situation on the plane’,” Caw recounted. His Instagram video captured both the bird’s erratic movements and the passengers’ animated attempts to help.
The laughter and cheers from the cabin were a rare moment of levity on what could have otherwise been a routine, uneventful flight. Eventually, the decision was made to return the plane to the gate. Ground crew, including baggage handlers, boarded the plane to conduct the bird’s removal.
Some moments in flights! Two pigeons made their way inside a fully boarded Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Madison over Memorial Day Weekend.
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) May 27, 2025
Passenger Tom Caw posted on Instagram about the happening and their safe removal.
The pilot made an announcement, confirming… pic.twitter.com/DV68sQdPyn
The first pigeon was successfully captured and escorted off the plane, greeted by applause from amused passengers. A young girl even asked if she could pet the bird before it was carried away—highlighting the surreal and almost cinematic quality of the entire event.
When Lightning Strikes Twice: The Second Pigeon
Most passengers likely thought that was the end of their avian adventure. The plane was cleared again for takeoff, and boarding procedures resumed. But in a twist worthy of a comedy film, the saga wasn’t over. Just as the aircraft was preparing to taxi and passengers were gearing up for a delayed but eventual takeoff, another flutter of wings stirred the cabin once again.
A second pigeon had somehow stowed away on the same flight. This revelation sparked a fresh wave of confusion, laughter, and disbelief. “Pilot said when he radioed the control tower about us coming back due to a pigeon, the guy said that was a first for him,” Caw shared.
Passengers could be seen once again trying to assist with the impromptu bird hunt. One particularly determined individual again resorted to using his jacket as a makeshift net, swinging at the bird in midair. It was yet another display of cooperative chaos, as crew and travelers alike tried to coax or catch the elusive stowaway.
The pilot, now twice thwarted by the avian interlopers, brought the plane back to the gate once more. Baggage handlers returned for a second extraction mission and successfully removed the second pigeon, alive and unharmed. The strange series of events finally came to an end, leaving passengers exhausted but with a once-in-a-lifetime travel tale.
Delta Responds and Passengers React
Delta Airlines confirmed the bizarre double delay, stating that Flight 2348 was held up for a total of 56 minutes due to “a wildlife situation onboard.” In a statement following the incident, the airline acknowledged the disruption and expressed gratitude for the passengers’ patience and the staff’s swift action. “We appreciate the careful actions of our people and our customers to safely remove two birds from the aircraft prior to departure,” a Delta spokesperson said.
The airline’s measured and professional response helped de-escalate what could have been a frustrating experience. While delays are never ideal, the humor and novelty of the situation seemed to disarm any serious anger among the passengers. Instead, many took to social media to share their experience with hashtags like #PigeonFlight, #FeatheredDelay, and #OnlyOnDelta, turning a disruption into a shared story of absurdity.
Comment sections and forums lit up with reactions. Some found the situation hilarious and heartwarming, others offered theories about how the pigeons might have gotten on board. One frequent flyer joked, “Well, at least they didn’t charge the birds for a carry-on.” Another added, “Now I’ve seen everything—next time, it’ll be squirrels in first class.”
Still, others expressed concern about airport wildlife protocols. Pigeons are common in urban areas, and while rare, incidents like this underscore the need for vigilance around boarding gates and jet bridges. How the pigeons made it onto the aircraft remains unclear, but airport authorities are likely to investigate and adjust procedures if necessary to prevent future feathered intrusions.
As for the passengers, their brief brush with chaos offered a moment of bonding and unexpected entertainment. In a world where airline travel is often stressful and impersonal, the incident brought strangers together in a lighthearted and shared experience. The images and videos from Flight 2348 will no doubt live on as a peculiar and memorable moment in aviation folklore.
And perhaps the pigeons themselves—if only they knew the viral fame they achieved—might consider their next adventure with a bit more subtlety. After all, not every frequent flyer has feathers.