Stupid pair of irresponsible imbeciles, ... and poor moggy - it must've been petrified! I mean ... ... surely this couple could scarcely have been so bound up in their excitement as to fail to notice its presence before taking off in the first place!
A genuine Mistake by the pilot I would have said, a bit strong Arthur.
Once he saw the cat he came straight back to the airfield to land, yes it would have been horrible if the cat fell off, but all ended well.