Newark, NJ - Birds Cause Flap On Jet

Newark, NJ - Two birds on board a JetBlue airliner from San Juan to Newark Liberty International Airport, caused quite a flap.

The two small African parrots were sneaked onto the early morning flight by a passenger who hid them in a 6-inch by 6-inch cardboard box, which he then shoved inside a carry-on bag and sneaked through security, said a JetBlue spokesman. "It appears we became aware of them in-flight when one of the birds got loose," he said. The bird flitted around the cabin before being caught and put back in the box.

The flight was met by officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security. Jim Rogers, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department, said the birds belonged to the traveler, whose name was not released. He had partially filled out the required form to transport the birds within the United States, but had not completed it, Rogers said.

The traveler did not appear to have violated any law, Rogers said.