Qantas has grounded one of its jets after five rats were found in the cabin.
The rodents were discovered in emergency medical equipment during a health and safety inspection on a Boeing 767 aircraft due to leave Sydney on Tuesday afternoon.
The plane was grounded while the rats were killed. Staff searched the cabin to make sure no more rodents were on board.
Engineers carried out an inspection of the plane to ensure that the rats hadn’t nibbled through any wiring.
“We still don’t know how they got on board but it is obviously not a common occurrence,” a Qantas spokesman said.