Spider Bite Disrupts Flight as Allergic Pilot Treated Mid-Air

An Iberia pilot was bitten by a suspected tarantula during a flight from Germany to Spain, leading to delays for fumigation and medical treatment.

The incident occurred on February 21 during an Iberia Airbus A320 flight from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Madrid, Spain.
The pilot, who is allergic to spiders, was bitten mid-flight and treated with anti-inflammatory medication after landing safely in Madrid.
The spider is believed to have boarded the plane earlier in the week during a layover in Casablanca, Morocco.
Specialist teams fumigated the plane in Madrid, causing a three-hour delay before its next scheduled flight to Vigo, Spain.
Passengers on subsequent flights expressed unease, checking their surroundings for additional spiders despite the fumigation.