While the panic caused by snakes on the plane was forever remembered by the movie of the same name, other types of critters periodically enter and exit the plane and wreak havoc among passengers.
Last October, a flight between two Mexican cities was delayed several hours after a swarm of mosquitoes entered and began buzzing around the plane, while a woman flying on a budget airline from Bangkok to Taiwan was detained after sneaking in two otters, a marmoset and 28 turtles (which then got loose and started moving around the cabin).
Related: Loose otters and a marmoset caused serious chaos on board a flight
The latest incident had to do with bees and took place on a flight of the Brazilian regional airline Voepass Linhas Aéreas.
'They started humming around the entire plane'
As passengers aboard the flight later described to local media, they initially heard a buzzing sound and saw a swarm of bees covering an entire wing outside the plane. The hour-long flight had just landed at Greater Natal International Airport, in the northeast of the country, from Fernando de Noronha Airport, off the Brazilian coast.
More trips:
- A new travel term is taking over the internet (and reaching airlines and hotels)
- 10 Best Airline stocks to Buy Now
- Airlines see a new type of traveler at the front of the plane
While the passengers and crew waited on the tarmac for the situation to be resolved, bees began knocking on the windows and flying over the plane.
“They started humming all over the plane,” described passenger Everton César. “They took us by surprise.”
Travelers were ordered to take their seats while the pilot called the local fire department to assist with the situation. Footage captured of the incident shows some passengers talking animatedly inside the plane while watching what is happening outside.
'There were many of them and they didn't want to get off the plane…'
“It took them some time to arrive, assess the situation and decide what to do,” César continued. “Then some of the bees landed on one of the wings of the plane while the rest continued to fly above the plane. “There were many of them and they didn't want to get off the plane.”
Firefighters eventually arrived and sprayed a substance that caused the bees to disperse, while those on board were able to disembark approximately 90 minutes after the plane landed, around 2 p.m. local time.
But dramatic images of the bees swarming outside the plane quickly spread across several social media sites, as those who are particularly squeamish about bees and other insects saw their worst fears visualized.
While flights departing from tropical destinations have to deal with the bug problem more frequently, these types of infestations occur regularly in different parts of the world. Last summer, a message from American Airlines was leaked (AAL) – Get a free report The memo revealed how the airline instructs crew members to deal with cockroaches found on wide-body aircraft such as the B777 and B787.
Crew who spot a cockroach on board a flight can “conduct initial aircraft treatment” or “contact Management Of Change (the industry term for the team in charge of health and cleanliness) to issue the deferral.” corresponding at the next available opportunity.”
“After the removal of the bees, all passengers disembarked safely, the plane underwent maintenance and was then cleared for the next flight,” a Voepass spokesperson told the New York Post.
