Pigs that made an unexpected arrival in Bermuda after they reportedly caused a stink on a plane are being well cared for on the island, the Government has revealed.

Skyport, the operators of LF Wade International Airport, revealed Saturday that the swine landed early Friday evening along with 259 passengers and crew on KLM flight 685, a Boeing B787-9K from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Mexico City, Mexico.

The airport operator 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”.

Passengers departed late Saturday night, but the Government said yesterday that the hogs in their crates had been offloaded and remained on the island in a secure location.

It added in a statement: “The animals’ welfare is a priority. The Government Veterinarian, Dr 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.”

The government statement added: “In anticipation of this possibility, contingency plans are under way to relocate the pigs temporarily.

“The DENR is coordinating with relevant government departments and local farmers to assist in housing the animals.

“The Government will provide further updates on this dynamic situation as new developments arise.”

It added: “The 259 passengers and crew, who surely never expected their journey to go hog wild, were processed through immigration and are being accommodated at local hotels, thanks to the swift co-ordination between Skyport, local authorities and Delta Air Lines, KLM's airline partner.”

The airport operator said: “Meanwhile, the pigs — living high on the hog during their impromptu holiday stopover — are being cared for at a secure location on the island, with assistance from a government veterinarian.

“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 said: “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 Saturday evening, affected passengers waited in line to board their flight to Mexico, which the FlightAwarewebsite said departed at 11pm.

A couple told The Royal Gazette that they were travelling on vacation 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 weren't affected by the situation.

Another passenger said he was returning to work after spending his vacation 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”.