Date: 13th December 2024
Location: Bermuda
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9, registration PH-BHA
Operator: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Flight Number: KL-685
Route: Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Mexico City (Mexico)
Occupants: 259 passengers, crew, and approximately 100 pigs
Injuries: None reported
Summary of Events
On 13th December 2024, KLM flight KL-685, a Boeing 787-9 enroute from Amsterdam to Mexico City, encountered an unusual situation approximately 70 nautical miles north of Bermuda. The crew detected a strong “obnoxious smell” emanating from the cargo hold, where approximately 100 pigs were being transported. The odour was suspected to potentially affect the cockpit’s oxygen environment, prompting the crew to divert to Bermuda.
The crew clarified to air traffic control that the diversion was precautionary and not a Mayday or PAN situation, and no emergency services were required on landing. The aircraft landed safely on Bermuda’s runway 12 about 45 minutes after the decision to divert.
Actions Taken
1. Passenger and Crew Care:
• The passengers and crew were transported to hotels during the unplanned layover.
2. Pig Management:
• The pigs were safely unloaded and housed in a secure location on the island, earning an unexpected holiday on Bermuda’s scenic shores.
3. Aircraft Inspection:
• The aircraft underwent inspection and cleaning during its approximately 30.5-hour stay on the ground before resuming its journey to Mexico City.
Possible Causes and Contributing Factors
1. Cargo Management:
• The presence of 100 pigs in the cargo hold likely created elevated odour levels due to natural biological processes, possibly exacerbated by flight conditions such as pressurisation and ventilation cycles.
2. Cockpit Environment:
• The crew’s decision to divert was influenced by the potential risk of the odour affecting the air quality in the cockpit, even though no immediate emergency was declared.
3. Logistical Planning:
• Transporting a large number of livestock in a commercial flight environment poses unique challenges, including containment of odours and stress management for the animals.
Safety Recommendations
1. Livestock Transport Guidelines:
• Airlines should reassess protocols for transporting large numbers of livestock, including improved odour control systems and monitoring of air quality in the cabin and cockpit.
2. Pre-Flight Planning:
• Enhanced planning for flights carrying livestock, including better ventilation strategies and contingency plans for potential mid-flight odour or stress issues.
3. Crew Training:
• Regular training for crew members on handling unexpected situations involving live cargo, including risk assessment and appropriate decision-making processes.
Safety Lessons and Public Relations Impact
The diversion highlights the challenges of transporting live animals on long-haul flights and the importance of ensuring the well-being of all passengers—human and animal alike. Bermuda’s light-hearted statement about their hospitality for “two-legged and four-legged visitors” underscores the importance of managing such incidents with transparency and humour to maintain public goodwill.
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Our investigation reports are based on all the evidence and facts we have at the time of writing and posting. We apologise if any details are missed or are not fully accurate.
