Rats were discovered in a service cart on an Arkia flight that arrived from Greece without passengers, the airline said Monday. The cart had been carrying bottled water and cups, and Arkia stressed that there was no contact between the rats and any food or passengers.
Arkia said the incident was under investigation and that no traveler came into contact with the rodents or any damaged products. The airline said the discovery was made in a supply cart that had come from the dry-goods warehouse of T.M.M., the airline catering company, and not in food intended for passengers.
According to Arkia, the cart was immediately taken out of service once the problem was found, and the matter was handled right away. The airline said the food loaded onto the flight was not harmed or affected in any way.
Arkia said T.M.M. is responsible for preparing, storing, and transporting catering supplies, and serves Israeli airlines as well as many foreign carriers operating at Ben Gurion Airport. It said T.M.M. holds full responsibility for the warehouses, equipment, sanitary conditions, and quality control at its facilities. Arkia said it views the incident seriously, is demanding a thorough investigation, and expects full explanations and corrective steps to prevent a recurrence.
