Spiders onboard prompted a strange scenario for Iberia passengers in Madrid when an Iberia pilot reportedly encountered a tarantula in the cockpit during a routine flight from Dusseldorf to Madrid Barajas Airport . It is speculated that the spider may have boarded during a layover in Casablanca Airport , Morocco. The pilot was bitten while the plane was in the air and immediate medical action was taken once all souls were safely on the ground.
Iberia publicly stated that the aircraft continued flying, serving Brussels, Zurich, and Toulouse. Iberia crew followed all safety protocols, including on-ground fumigation and a brief grounding of the aircraft to protect passengers and other crew members from exposure.
An unusual situation
Reports indicate that the pilot was given an anti-inflammatory steroid, either Methylprednisolone or Urbasón (depending on the source), upon landing as a preventive measure. It’s unclear, due to conflicting reports, if the captain showed an adverse reaction, but, after receiving a corticosteroid of some kind (anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medicine), he did resume his duties without extensive delay.
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Flying regulations in Spain require airlines to perform disinfection procedures if an insect or arachnid onboard presents a risk. Procedures at Madrid Barajas Airport included complete cabin fumigation and a check of overhead lockers, seats, and the cockpit.
These processes led to a three-hour delay, but Iberia was able to reassure passengers that the plane would continue operations safely. The aircraft resumed its scheduled flights after the ‘all clear’ was officially declared.
The Iberia pilot
Recovery for the Iberia pilot was reported to be immediate and uneventful. According to the Independent, “the pilot is doing fine and carried on with the scheduled flights.” Flight schedules resumed with minimal disruption, although there was a short-lived backlog for subsequent departures.
The New York Post reported that “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.”
Iberia reported that the same plane resumed normal activities around 3 hours later, reflecting the airline’s swift response in tackling a complex, unforeseen challenge. No further reports of spider sightings surfaced once the airline declared the aircraft safe.
As the New York Post said, 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. Iberia was unable to confirm if it had, in fact, been a tarantula as believed or some other kind of bug.
Some reports about the pilot’s condition suggest the bite, if it indeed came from a spider, did not produce severe swelling or a serious allergic reaction. Meanwhile, others, including the New York Post, did report an allergic medical emergency.
In any case, it appears that the pilot is safe and healthy in the aftermath of this strange incident. Iberia representatives emphasized that disinfection protocols are practiced whenever concerns about insect-borne risks arise. Strong measures were made to ensure public confidence would not be affected by the bizarre case.
Unexpected stowaways
These kinds of ‘stranger than fiction’ scenarios are like something out of Hollywood. An example of such a film is Spiders on a Plane (2024), where, according to IMDB “a group of four friends takes on a plane full of deadly venomous spiders, accidentally released by a mad Russian scientist attacking all onboard.”
Photo: Iberia
Other instances of venomous pests on aircraft have been reported around the world. This particularly disturbing problem seems to most often arise when planes operate in tropical or subtropical environments, and the scary bugs can slip onboard unnoticed. Ground crews in some airports, like Asia and Australia, use specialized inspection protocols to prevent such intrusions.
The big bugger down under
In another disturbing incident reported by the NZ Herald, passenger Sean Hancock recounted the 15 cm (six inches) huntsman spider that he was ambushed by on a flight in the Northern Territory of Australia. That event led to a tense moment for the pilot, who had to keep control of his plane while a large and horrifying spider descended on him from the cockpit’s ceiling.
Off to the races
In another alarming case, from the BBC in 2023, a plane that had taken off from New York, bound for Belgium, had a horse get loose! The crew desperately attempted to secure the huge animal back in its stall at 30,000 feet but their attempts were all defeated. The Boeing 747 was forced to turn around after the horse escaped and caused chaos, as the plane was cruising just 90 minutes after departure. Air traffic control audio recorded the pilot saying:
Photo: Iberia
What Happened To The Pilot? The Iberia Flight With An Unwelcomed Visitor Onboard
