(Image courtesy of Twitter)
A US Airways flight at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, today was delayed on the runway for hours by a swarm of bees. According to WCNC, passengers onboard US Airways Flight 2690 were saying that the aircraft had been stranded on the tarmac for more than two hours. The flight was supposed to depart at 1:15 p.m.
Someone sprayed the bees with Raid and now they are all agitated. We can't use the jetway.
— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) July 24, 2013
The flight, bound for Indianapolis, was delayed, according to WSOC, when the vehicle responsible for backing up the plane was swarmed with bees. The crew soon announced to the passengers that they could not take off because the bees were now attacking the nose of the plane.
Plane heating up. Can't get off. Pilot says they ' don't know what to do' BUY SOME RAID FOR STARTERS @USAirways
— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) July 24, 2013
The passengers were kept inside the plane because at least one of them is allergic to bees. A beekeeper was called to the scene. Paramedics were on stand-by.
The beekeeper is here!!!!!
— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) July 24, 2013
At 3:56 p.m., a passenger inside the plan tweeted that they were finally taking off and heading to their destination.
Sounds like were Bee Free!!!!!
— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) July 24, 2013
Taking off!
— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) July 24, 2013
STORY UPDATE: A passenger on flight #2690 just told Channel 9 that @USAirways is offering each passenger on the flight free flight vouchers.
— WSOC TV (@WSOC_TV) July 24, 2013
This isn’t the only example of nature interfering with human aeronautic travel. In 2009, a bird strike hit US Airways Flight 1549 while departing from LaGuardia Airport in New York. The event occurred during the plane’s ascent, resulting in a loss in engine power. The flight crew, deciding that the aircraft would not make it to an airport, ditched the plane in the Hudson River. The incident became known as “Miracle on the Hudson.”
