Pigs that made an unexpected arrival in Bermuda after they reportedly caused a stink on a plane left the island last evening, Skyport has confirmed.

The operator of LF Wade International Airport said that KLM Flight 685 departed just before 6.30pm “after 100 pigs in the cargo hold were safely loaded”.

Skyport revealed on Saturday that the swine landed early Friday evening along with 259 passengers and crew on a Boeing B787-9K from Amsterdam to Mexico City.

It said that “the distinctive aroma of 100 pigs travelling in the cargo hold prompted the flight crew to divert to Bermuda for a fresh-air break”.

The Government said that the hogs in their crates had been offloaded and were taken to a secure location ― believed to be the former mail processing facility on the airport property.

The KLM flight’s 259 human passengers and crew were processed through immigration and accommodated a hotels on the island “thanks to the swift co-ordination between Skyport, local authorities and Delta Air Lines, KLM's airline partner”, Skyport said.

The Government added in a statement: “The animals’ welfare is a priority. The government veterinarian, Jonathan Nisbett, and animal wardens from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have been attending to the pigs, ensuring they are well cared for while further arrangements are made.

“Ongoing discussions with KLM Cargo aim to secure a relief flight to transport the pigs to their final destination in Mexico. However, if delays persist, the pigs will need to be released from their crates to ensure their wellbeing.

“This step would necessitate new animal testing and certification for compliance with international transportation regulations, potentially adding further complexity to their journey.”

An update from Skyport later said that the pigs were secured in their crates in KLM Cargo 777-200 cargo bay, and were loaded on to the aircraft between 5.35pm and 5.45pm.

It added: “The flight is expected to arrive in Mexico City ahead of schedule at 9.22pm local time [11.22 Atlantic Standard Time].”

The company said: “The Bermuda Government, Menzies [grounds services], Delta Air Lines and Skyport worked closely to ensure the pigs were treated humanely throughout the ordeal.

“This co-ordinated effort reflects the island's commitment to caring for all visitors — whether they walk on two legs or trot on four.”

A Skyport spokeswoman added: “Our team at Skyport is accustomed to managing all sorts of unusual situations, and today was no exception.

“Thanks to excellent collaboration between KLM, Delta Air Lines and local partners, both our two-legged and four-legged visitors are safe and well cared for — even if this wasn't quite the Christmas vacation they had planned.”

An audio recording posted on The Bermuda FlyerInstagram account appeared to be of an exchange between a member of the KLM crew and an air traffic control liaison.

The crew member was asked whether equipment was required for the plane’s landing and to confirm “this is still not an emergency”, which he did.

He added that “there was a lot of obnoxious cargo coming from pigs, probably, which may have something to do with the oxygen environment in the cockpit, so that’s why I’m diverting”.

The crew member said he thought no extra equipment was needed.

An ATC liaison asked: “Just to confirm, there’s live pigs in the cargo hold?”

The crew member responded: “Yeah, and those are probably the starter of the inconvenience so they have to be offloaded but we’ll see about that later on.”

At LF Wade International Airport, as affected passengers waited in line to board their flight to Mexico, a couple told The Royal Gazette that they were travelling on holiday to Central America when they were advised by KLM staff their flight would be diverted to Bermuda.

The pair said that although they were tired and exhausted from the ordeal, the airlines and airport authorities accommodated to their needs.

The man said he believed the flight could have continued onwards to Mexico despite the odour, and his wife agreed. She added that they were not adversely affected by the situation.

Another passenger said he was returning to work after spending his holiday in Europe.

He said he enjoyed the hospitality of the island and added — in a sentiment shared by others — that he planned to return to Bermuda to explore further.

Skyport said on Saturday: “This unexpected event adds a curious chapter to Bermuda's history.

“Wild pigs were among the island's earliest settlers, their night-time grunts mingling with the haunting calls of the Bermuda cahow to create eerie sounds that mystified early sailors.

“These echoes earned Bermuda the nickname ‘Devil's Isle” — though today's visitors seem far more angelic than devilish.“

The airport operator added that the surprise guests “certainly brought some unexpected Christmas cheer, and a few memorable aromas, to the island”.