A nightmare-worthy scare occurred on a Iberia airplane flight a few days ago. A tarantula bit an allergic pilot on board.
His body had a strong reaction due to the condition, causing some delays. Fortunately, for him and the passengers, it didn’t escalate further.
A tarantula bit an allergic pilot mid-flight: how the episode unfolded
It all happened on an Iberia Airbus A320 flying from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Madrid last Friday.
As soon as the bite occurred, the man was promptly treated with urbasón, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that helps treat these episodes.
All airplanes carry this medicine in their first aid kits, and in this case, it was essential.
The aircraft safely arrived in the Spanish capital and landed without further scares at Barajas Airport. Once there, on the ground, it was completely fumigated to prevent any similar incidents.
It is unknown exactly how the spider got onto the plane, according to local media reports.
However, initial investigations indicate it may have gained access through a passenger’s luggage on the previous flight the same plane took: Madrid – Casablanca.
They estimate the tarantula could be from the Moroccan city. The airline later confirmed that despite his severe spider allergy, the pilot did not suffer serious harm or subsequent issues.
Characteristics of tarantulas
Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders whose appearance often scares more than one person. They are characterized by having a hard exoskeleton. They are carnivorous and have venomous fangs.
Characteristics of tarantulas.
They have a body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen, eight hairy legs, and another four appendages near the mouth called “chelicerae” and “pedipalps”.
While they are not usually aggressive, they do defend themselves against threats. They are carnivorous and chew and dissolve their prey after paralyzing them with a venomous bite. As an unusual characteristic, they can go without food for three to five days.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet? Subscribe now!
