A four-legged stowaway surprised inspectors at New York's JFK airport. A vigilant TSA official first noticed tufts of orange fur sticking out of a slightly open suitcase.
An X-ray control confirmed that a cat had crawled inside.
"The positive thing is that the cat is out of the bag," TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein tweeted. The suitcase's owner was told to return to the ticket office, she said in an email. There he was able to clarify the animal incident: the cat belonged to another member of his household and he had not noticed the animal in the suitcase.
The cat, named Smells according to the New York Post newspaper, has been returned to her owner. She wasn't aware of her pet's trip until the airport got in touch with her.
The animal is in good health, according to the TSA, and is now safe in its home. No penalty awaits the passenger.