The dispute between Arkia and catering company Tamam over rats discovered in a catering cart on a flight from Greece has escalated. After trading accusations, Arkia sent Tamam a pre-legal notice rejecting its claims and demanding that the company accept responsibility for the incident and compensate for the damage caused.
In the letter, Arkia also asked Tamam to stop blaming the airline, refrain from publications that could harm its reputation, and preserve all evidence related to the case. That evidence includes the catering cart, the rat and the pups, security camera footage, pest-control records, and quality-control documentation. Arkia further demanded a full investigation and the transfer of its findings.
The incident became public after a rat and rat pups were found in a catering cart supplied to an Arkia aircraft on a flight to Greece. Arkia says the source of the problem was the cart provided by Tamam. Tamam rejected that version and said the cart had been inspected and approved before departure.
Tamam said the cart contained only soft drinks, was checked before loading, and was found to be in proper condition. The company said the problem was discovered only after the plane landed in Greece, and warned that any attempt to damage its name would be dealt with legally if necessary. Tamam also said Arkia should conduct its own thorough investigation. The dispute is now moving into the legal arena.
