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The aircraft was halted at the Madrid Airport, where the specialist teams fumigated it to eliminate the tarantula.
The pilot was operating an Iberia Airbus A320. (Photo Credit: X)
An Iberia pilot with a severe spider allergy was bitten mid-flight by a hidden tarantula, leading to hours-long delays as the aircraft underwent fumigation upon landing. According to the New York Post, the incident occurred on a flight from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Madrid, Spain, aboard an Iberia Airbus A320.
The pilot suffered an allergic reaction after being bitten by the unexpected eight-legged stowaway, as reported by Canarian Weekly. He was promptly treated with Urbasón, a corticosteroid known for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, from the flight’s first aid kit. Despite the alarming situation, the plane landed safely in Madrid, and all passengers disembarked without issue.
Following the landing, the aircraft was temporarily grounded at Madrid Airport, where specialist teams conducted fumigation to eliminate any remaining traces of the tarantula.
According to the report, the fumigation process caused the plane’s next planned flight from Madrid to Vigo to be delayed by about three hours. The treatment was initially attributed to maintenance concerns before passengers; however, they learned the real reason for the delay before boarding.
As per the investigators, the eight-legged menace entered the flight via luggage from an earlier flight between Madrid and Casablanca, Morocco. Though it is unclear whether the pilot needs additional medical attention, Iberia Airlines reported that the pilot is doing well and has experienced no long-term health effects.
Several passengers appeared uncomfortable while boarding the flight, thoroughly examining their seats and luggage for any remaining arachnids. The aircraft to Vigo arrived safely around midnight local time, with no additional eight-legged stowaway sightings reported.
It is not the first time such an incident has taken place, but spiders have caused aviation chaos in the past too. Last year, Turkish police arrested a man at Istanbul Airport for smuggling hundreds of poisonous spiders and scorpions out of the country.
Authorities found dozens of bags holding approximately 1,500 scorpions and spiders, including tarantulas, along with dozens of plastic bottles containing unspecified liquids. According to reports, the man was identified as Lorenzo Prendini, a curator at the historic US museum.
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