A pilot suffered an allergic reaction at 35,000 feet after being bitten by a tarantula during an Iberia flight from Dusseldorf to Madrid.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon aboard an Airbus A320, causing significant disruption to onward journeys.
The aircraft required fumigation upon landing at Madrid's Barajas Airport, leading to a three-hour delay for subsequent passengers.
The spider is believed to have boarded the aircraft during an earlier stopover in Casablanca, Morocco.
The spider is believed to have boarded the aircraft during an earlier stopover in Casablanca, Morocco
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After departing Dusseldorf, the Iberia Airbus A320 was en route to Madrid when the incident occurred.
The tarantula is thought to have made its way onto the aircraft during a previous stopover in the Moroccan city of Casablanca earlier in the week.
Prior to the spider's discovery, the aircraft had completed several European routes, touching down in Brussels, Zurich and Toulouse after leaving Casablanca on Tuesday.
The arachnid's presence was only detected when it bit the pilot during Friday's flight to the Spanish capital.
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The pilot was treated with Urbason, a medication also known as Methylprednisolone, which is commonly used for severe allergic reactions and inflammatory conditions.
Iberia has confirmed the pilot is now doing well, with no lasting health effects from the incident.
It remains unclear whether the pilot required additional medical assistance upon landing in Madrid.
The fumigation process in Madrid caused a three-hour delay for passengers waiting to board their onward flight to Vigo.
Iberia has confirmed the pilot is now doing well, with no lasting health effects from the incident
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According to La Voz de Galicia, some passengers on the subsequent flight to Vigo were visibly concerned and are reported to have been repeatedly checking their seats and the aisle for additional spiders despite the aircraft's fumigation.
The plane eventually touched down in Vigo around midnight on Friday.
The incident left a lasting impact on travellers, with many remaining vigilant throughout their journey despite assurances that the fumigation had eliminated any potential arachnid threats.
