Saturday 21 May 2016

"Terrorists" Tarantulas Invade Air Transat Jet

Terrified passengers on board a Air Transat jet were left screaming and standing on their seats after two tarantulas ran amok during a flight.

The commercial plane was flying from Punta Cana to Montreal on April 18 when the spiders were spotted on the loose - sending everyone on board into a panic.

When crew members realised the large hairy spiders, which ranged from 10 to 20 centimetres in diameter, were running rampant, they advised travellers to put their shoes on and cover their ankles.

Cabin crew members were said to be at a loss over how to catch the arachnids as they ran riot beneath the seats.

One petrified passenger told of the grim moment one of the huge eight-legged beasts mounted her leg and crawled onto her skirt.

Catherine Moreau, who was travelling home to Repentigny in Montreal, Canada, said: "It was at the time of the meal. My daughter cried, she was in shock."

Luckily the spiders, which were discovered towards the end of the flight, were both captured.

One was caught by Catherine Moreau's husband with a plastic bag during the flight, while the second was recovered by a federal agent once the plane landed at Montreal-Trudeau Airport.

Tarantulas from the Dominican Republic are not life threatening, however, passengers on board the flight were unaware of the spider's breed, ICI Radio Canada reports.

The massive spiders, of which there are around 900 species, are venomous, but it is not known to be fatal to humans.

They are known to be aggressive, however, with some species known to feast on birds.

Stephen Normandin, an entomologist from Montreal University, said a passenger had probably hidden the spider in his luggage, possibly to sell in Canada.

He said: "The market for live tarantulas is very lucrative.

A spokesperson for Air Transat told ICI Radio Canada: "Passengers who saw the spiders were certainly surprised, but they reacted calmly."

"Our cabin crew are trained to ensure the safety of our passengers at all times.In the case at hand, which is an extraordinary and isolated event, our staff reacted promptly and efficiently."

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