By Dwayne Ferreira.
Another cat reportedly lost during Emirates aircraft just days after a Sri Lankan passenger Avishka Kaumadi lost her loving Simba has been reportedly found. Sadly Simba still remains unaccounted for. SriLankan Airlines confirms it is awaiting an investigation report from ground handler Dnata.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A cat that reportedly escaped during loading operations for an Emirates flight at Dubai International Airport on October 15 has been found today, October 17, bringing relief following a two-day search. However, a Sri Lankan passenger’s cat, Simba, remains missing six days after disappearing during transportation arrangements for a SriLankan Airlines flight.
The contrasting developments have renewed questions about animal-handling procedures and emergency recovery operations at Dubai International Airport, where two separate cases of missing pets have emerged within days.
Simba, a Persian cat belonging to Sri Lankan passenger Avishka Kaumadi, disappeared on October 11 after completing the required procedures for transportation aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL226 to Colombo.
While the second cat’s reported recovery offers hope that animals lost within the airport complex can be located, Kaumadi is still awaiting answers about the circumstances of Simba’s disappearance.
Correspondence reviewed by The Morning Telegraph confirms that SriLankan Airlines has formally requested its ground-handling agent, Dnata, to investigate the incident and submit a detailed report.
Emirates Cat Found Two Days After Disappearing
The latest development concerns a female Arabian Mau, just over two years old, which reportedly escaped from a carrier while being loaded onto Emirates flight EK045 from Dubai to Frankfurt, Germany, on October 15.
According to an appeal circulated by the UAE Animal Community, the carrier was opened during the aircraft-loading process, allowing the animal to escape and run away.
The organization attributed that explanation to the airline, although The Morning Telegraph has not independently obtained Emirates’ incident report.
The appeal said the missing cat was spayed, microchipped and accustomed to living indoors. Her family had reportedly rescued her in Dubai in 2024 after discovering her beside her deceased mother.
The incident was also reported to have delayed the aircraft’s departure by approximately 51 minutes.
An available flight-tracking record confirms that Emirates EK045 departed Dubai later than scheduled on October 15, although the reason for the delay has not been independently verified.
According to the latest information received by The Morning Telegraph, the Arabian Mau was found on October 17, two days after her disappearance.
Details concerning precisely where she was discovered, who recovered her, her physical condition and whether she has been reunited with her family have not yet been independently confirmed.
Nevertheless, the reported recovery represents a positive development following the public appeal for assistance.
It also highlights the importance of sustained searches, coordination between airport personnel and the prompt circulation of identifying information when animals escape within airport facilities.
Simba Still Missing Six Days After Disappearance
For Kaumadi, the recovery of the second cat provides hope, but Simba’s whereabouts remain unknown.
On October 11, she arrived at Dubai International Airport intending to travel to Sri Lanka with her pet.
She presented the necessary documents, completed the required payments and accompanied a dnata crew member for her cats pre-flight inspection.
According to Kaumadi, the inspecting officer examined Simba, returned him to his carrier and confirmed that the animal matched the information in the accompanying documentation.
These procedures were completed between approximately 8:30 p.m. and 9:25 p.m.
Kaumadi then subsequently cleared immigration and entered the duty-free area, believing her cat had been safely accepted for transportation.
Shortly afterwards, she received a telephone call from a SriLankan Airlines staff member whom she identified as Dev, informing her that Simba had escaped.
She immediately requested permission to return to the area where her pet had disappeared, but was informed that authorization would be required because she had already cleared immigration.
When asked whether she would travel to Colombo without Simba, she refused.
Passenger Recounts Horrifying 28-Hour Ordeal and Midnight Search
At approximately midnight, Kaumadi says permission was obtained for her to enter the relevant cargo-handling area accompanied by the airline representative.
They searched for more than an hour near aircraft operating areas, calling Simba’s name repeatedly.
However, darkness and poor lighting made locating the cat extremely difficult.
The search proved unsuccessful.
Kaumadi was subsequently escorted back to the D18 boarding area, where accommodation was arranged.
She says she remained stranded at the airport for approximately 28 hours, unable to even change her clothes while waiting for news about her missing feline.
On October 12, she approached Dubai Airport Police seeking assistance and asking to lodge an official complaint.
She was eventually directed to airport personnel who offered verbal assurances that Simba would be transported to Sri Lanka whenever he was located.
However, Kaumadi says she remained concerned about relying solely on verbal assurances, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Simba’s whereabouts. She subsequently contacted the SriLankan Airlines representative, whom she identified as Dev, and requested written confirmation that her cat would be transported to Sri Lanka once recovered.
According to Kaumadi, the representative refused to provide such an assurance and instead informed her that her flight ticket had been rebooked. The exchange resulted in a disagreement, leaving her increasingly concerned about who would take responsibility for Simba’s eventual return.
At approximately 7 p.m. on October 12, Kaumadi returned to Dubai Airport Police requesting assistance. She was subsequently instructed to meet a representative of the Dubai Airport Management Team at 8 p.m.
During that meeting, the official reportedly assured her that Simba would be sent to Sri Lanka whenever he was found, whether the following day, within a week or even after a month. However, Kaumadi’s account does not indicate that she received the written guarantee she had requested.
“If the Cat Is Dead, Madam, You Can File a Lawsuit Against Us”
Kaumadi has also described a troubling exchange with an airport management representative during a meeting on October 12.
According to her account, the representative told her that a British passenger’s cat had previously disappeared at the airport and was eventually recovered after approximately one month.
He reportedly assured her that Simba would be transported to Sri Lanka whenever he was found, regardless of whether the search took days or weeks.
Kaumadi then asked what would happen if Simba were discovered dead.
She alleges that the representative replied:
“If the cat is dead, madam, you can file a lawsuit against us.”
The Morning Telegraph has not independently verified or obtained the representative’s version of events.
The alleged statement does not establish an admission of legal liability, but it raises questions about the communication and support offered to passengers whose pets disappear during airport transportation arrangements.
SriLankan Airlines Confirms Formal Investigation by Dnata
In a written response reviewed by The Morning Telegraph, SriLankan Airlines’ Dubai Station Manager, Sherine Samarakone, apologised for the incident and acknowledged the distress caused to those concerned.
The airline stated:
“We share your distress and sadness regarding the loss of your pet during transportation.”
Samarakone explained that searches began after the airline was notified of Simba’s disappearance and that locating a frightened animal within an extensive airport environment could be difficult.
Crucially, she confirmed that dnata, the airline’s ground-handling agent, had been formally asked to investigate.
“We have formally requested our handling agent, dnata, to investigate the matter and provide a detailed report, and we are currently awaiting their response.”
SriLankan Airlines also confirmed that photographs of Simba had been distributed to relevant airport personnel and displayed at key operational locations.
The airline promised to communicate any developments, including the cat’s recovery.
However, the correspondence does not explain how Simba escaped, whether the carrier had been properly secured, or who was responsible for handling it immediately before the disappearance.
A completed investigation report has not been made available to The Morning Telegraph.
Dubai Airports Acknowledges Complaint
Separate email correspondence bearing Dubai Airports branding also confirms that a complaint concerning a missing pet has been formally registered.
The airport operator stated:
“Please be advised that your complaint has been logged with the relevant department, and the necessary investigation is currently underway.”
Dubai Airports further indicated that its team was coordinating with the department concerned and would make efforts to reunite the missing animal with its owner.
The response, addressed to Nikith Samalka, who is the brother of Mrs.Kaumadi, included assurances that updates would be provided as the investigation progressed.
The Morning Telegraph has also reviewed complaints sent by Kaumadi on October 12 to SriLankan Airlines, Dubai Airports’ lost-property service and dnata customer relations.
In her complaint, she requested an investigation, confirmation of Simba’s whereabouts, a written explanation, appropriate travel assistance and consideration of losses resulting from the incident.
She wrote:
“I trusted SriLankan Airlines to handle my journey and my pet’s transportation responsibly.”
SriLankan Airlines’ Customer Affairs Department subsequently registered her complaint and indicated a standard resolution period of 12 working days.
While formal complaint procedures are important, the continued disappearance of a live animal raises the question of whether urgent recovery operations should be subject to separate escalation procedures.
Two Cats Lost Days Apart — One Found, One Still Missing
The recovery of the Arabian Mau reportedly lost during Emirates flight-loading operations on October 15 offers a notable contrast to Simba’s continuing disappearance.
Both incidents concern animals reportedly escaping during the international air transportation process at Dubai International Airport, although they involved different airlines and may have involved different handling arrangements.
There is no established evidence that the same employees or handling failures were responsible for the two incidents.
Nevertheless, the cases raise important questions about the inspection, security and transfer of animal carriers, particularly at busy airports where responsibility can pass between airlines, ground handlers and other operational personnel.
The recovery of the Emirates cat also raises practical questions relevant to Simba’s search: where the recovered animal was found, how she was located, and whether similar recovery methods could assist in finding him.
Such information could prove valuable if shared with the teams continuing to search for Simba.
Who Had Custody of Simba When He Escaped?
Official Sri Lankan government records confirm that dnata provides ground-handling and cargo-related services for SriLankan Airlines at Dubai International Airport under contracts awarded in 2026.
However, the existence of those contracts does not by itself establish negligence or determine which organization had direct custody of Simba at the moment he escaped.
The outstanding investigation should clarify the condition of Simba’s carrier, the sequence of handling operations, whether available CCTV footage has been examined, and the precise circumstances of the escape.
It should also establish what searches have been carried out since October 11 and whether those efforts remain active.
The Morning Telegraph has not received the completed dnata investigation report or any findings establishing responsibility.
Six Days Without Simba as Another Family Receives Hope
Following her eventual return to Sri Lanka, Kaumadi says her complaint was formally recorded at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.
Since then, she has continued seeking information about Simba’s whereabouts and the steps being taken to recover him.
The newly reviewed correspondence confirms that SriLankan Airlines and Dubai Airports have acknowledged concerns and initiated or requested investigations.
However, neither has provided The Morning Telegraph with a definitive explanation of how Simba disappeared.
The reported recovery of the Emirates cat demonstrates that a missing animal can be located after escaping within a major international airport.
For Kaumadi, that development may offer renewed hope that Simba, too, could still be found.
But as another family’s search reportedly ends successfully, hers continues.
Six days after Simba disappeared, the fundamental question remains unanswered: where is he, and what more can be done to bring him safely home?
Help Bring Simba Home Safely
The Morning Telegraph appeals to anyone who may have information that could assist in locating Simba and bringing him safely home. If you have experienced a similar incident, are familiar with airport animal-handling or recovery procedures, or have knowledge that could help his owner navigate the process, we encourage you to come forward.
Any information, guidance or relevant experience, however small, could make a meaningful difference in reuniting Simba with his family.
Please share any relevant information with our editorial team at editor@themorningtelegraph.com. All credible information received will be treated responsibly and forwarded to the relevant parties where appropriate.
