A romantic honeymoon in Crete for British newlyweds Ben and Harriet Shaw turned into an agonising ordeal after the airline transporting their three rescued kittens back to the UK lost the vulnerable felines.
The couple, from Surrey, discovered the stray siblings—Apollo, Artemis, and Hermes—in a dire state near their hotel and made the compassionate decision to adopt them. After weeks of organising paperwork, vaccinations, and pet passports, they believed they had done everything right to ensure a safe journey home with TUI Airways.
A Devastating Discovery at Gatwick
Their world came crashing down upon landing at London Gatwick. Instead of a happy reunion, they were met with the news that the animals' travel crate had arrived, but it was empty. The kittens had seemingly vanished from the aircraft's hold during the transit.
"We are utterly heartbroken and desperate for answers," Harriet told The Guardian. "We did everything by the book. To be told they are just lost is every pet owner's worst nightmare."
A Desperate Search and Airline Response
The ensuing days have been filled with frantic calls to the airline, airports, and animal authorities. TUI has stated it is "investigating as an absolute priority" how the kittens disappeared from the aircraft's hold during the flight from Heraklion. However, concrete answers remain elusive.
The couple's story has sparked outrage online, with many criticising the airline's handling of live animal cargo. The incident raises serious questions about the protocols and welfare standards for pets travelling in the hold of commercial aircraft.
A Plea for Help
Ben and Harriet are now appealing to the public and anyone who might have information. They refuse to give up hope of finding Apollo, Artemis, and Hermes.
"They are tiny, they must be terrified," Ben said. "We just pray they are safe and that someone can help bring them home to us."
