Mon Mar 10 11:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Tarantula Bite Grounds Plane, Causes Delays After Pilot’s Severe Allergic Reaction
**MADRID, SPAIN** – An Iberia Airbus A320 flight from Dusseldorf to Madrid experienced unexpected delays Friday after its pilot suffered a severe allergic reaction to a tarantula bite mid-flight. The pilot, whose identity has not been released, was bitten by the arachnid, believed to have stowed away on the aircraft.
Following the bite, crew members administered a corticosteroid to treat the allergic reaction. The plane landed safely in Madrid, and all passengers disembarked without incident. However, the aircraft underwent a three-hour fumigation process to eliminate the tarantula before it could resume service.
The delay, initially attributed to maintenance issues, prompted unease among passengers on the subsequent flight to Vigo. Passengers reported carefully inspecting their seats and luggage before boarding. Investigators suspect the tarantula may have boarded the plane in luggage from a previous flight between Madrid and Casablanca.
Iberia Airlines confirmed the pilot is recovering well with no lasting health effects. The flight to Vigo eventually landed safely around midnight. While the incident caused significant disruption, it highlights the unexpected challenges faced by air travel.
First Piper 