More than 250 passengers have been stranded on Aruba and Bonaire after their KLM flight to Amsterdam was cancelled because a rat was discovered on board the aircraft.

The rat was found on a KLM plane flying from Amsterdam to Aruba and Bonaire. According to a KLM spokesperson, the pilot decided to continue to Aruba rather than return to Schiphol. How the animal got on board is not known.

The aircraft did not continue its return journey to Amsterdam because it had to be thoroughly cleaned and inspected, the airline said. The Telegraaf has video of the rat moving behind a curtain on aboard the plane.

As a result, Thursday’s flight back to the Netherlands was cancelled. A total of 254 passengers were affected, some of whom were travelling onward from Aruba to Bonaire.

“We understand how unpleasant it is for everyone who is now stuck there and had expected to fly back to Amsterdam,” a KLM spokesperson told the Telegraaf. “We are doing everything we can to get these passengers to their destination as quickly as possible.”

Accommodation has been arranged for the stranded travellers.

KLM said the safety and well-being of passengers and crew were the deciding factors in cancelling the flight. The aircraft will only be returned to service once the cleaning and checks have been completed.