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A pilot with a severe allergy to spiders was bitten mid-flight by a stowaway tarantula — forcing hours-long delays as the plane was fumigated after landing safely, according to reports.

The pilot was operating an Iberia Airbus A320 flying from Düsseldorf, Germany, to the Spanish capital, Madrid, on Friday when he suffered a severe allergic reaction from the terrifying arachnid, the Canarian Weekly reported.

The pilot was immediately treated with Urbasón, a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, which was in the flight’s first aid kid, the outlet said.


  A pilot with a severe allergy to spiders was bitten mid-flight by a tarantula, similar to the one seen here. New Africa – stock.adobe.com A pilot with a severe allergy to spiders was bitten mid-flight by a tarantula, similar to the one seen here. New Africa – stock.adobe.com

Despite the surprise attack, the flight safely landed in the Spanish capital and passengers got off safely, the report noted.

The plane was held while specialist teams at Madrid Airport fumigated the aircraft to either flush out or kill the eight-legged menace, the outlet reported.

Investigators believe the tarantula entered the plane via luggage on an earlier flight between Madrid and Casablanca, a city in Morocco, according to the outlet.

Though it is not clear if the pilot required more medical attention, Iberia Airlines confirmed to the outlet that the pilot is doing fine and has not suffered any lasting health effects.

The treatment delayed the plane’s next scheduled flight from Madrid to Vigo, with the roughly three-hour holdup attributed to maintenance issues before passengers caught wind of the real reason for the delay before boarding, according to the report.


  The pilot was immediately treated with a corticosteroid to quell his allergic reaction on the Iberia jet, similar to this one. Robert – stock.adobe.com The pilot was immediately treated with a corticosteroid to quell his allergic reaction on the Iberia jet, similar to this one. Robert – stock.adobe.com


  Passengers on the next flight were terrified of more spiders, such as this one in a stock image. Volodymyr Rudnytskyy – stock.adobe.com Passengers on the next flight were terrified of more spiders, such as this one in a stock image. Volodymyr Rudnytskyy – stock.adobe.com

Passengers were visibly uncomfortable while boarding the flight — checking seats and belongings for any signs of arachnids, the outlet said.

Despite the unease, the flight to Vigo safely touched down around midnight local time without any tarantula sightings.

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