An unusual incident occurred on Friday, when the pilot of an Iberia Airbus A320 was bitten by a tarantula mid-flight while travelling between Düsseldorf and Madrid.
The situation became particularly concerning as the pilot was allergic to spiders, according to reports from La Vanguardia.
He was immediately treated with Urbasón, a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, which was available in the aircraft’s first aid kit, to prevent any further reaction to the bite, and despite the unexpected incident, the plane landed safely in Madrid and passengers disembarked as normal.
Delayed Flight to Vigo and Fumigation Protocol
The incident caused a disruption to the aircraft’s next scheduled flight from Madrid to Vigo, initially attributed to maintenance checks, while technicians looked for the spider. However, the true reason soon emerged, leading to a three-hour delay, with the plane arriving close to midnight.
As a precaution, specialist teams at Madrid Airport fumigated the aircraft, following standard disinfection protocols, to either ‘flush’ it out or kill it.
Investigators suspect the tarantula entered the plane via luggage on an earlier flight between Madrid and Casablanca (Morrocco), a situation that has occurred before on flights from Africa.
Passenger Concerns and Pilot's Condition
Despite the fumigation, passengers on the Vigo flight were visibly uneasy, frequently checking their seats, belongings, and aisles for any sign of spiders.
Iberia has confirmed that the pilot is in good health and out of danger. However, while some crew members initially identified the spider as a tarantula, the airline has not been able to officially verify the species.
