An Air India flight from Nagpur to Mumbai experienced an extremely rare incident when a woman passenger was bitten by a scorpion on board the flight in April. The airline confirmed that it followed protocol and conducted a complete inspection of the aircraft after the incident, discovering the scorpion, and carrying out a fumigation process.
After landing, the passenger was attended by a doctor and subsequently treated at a hospital before being discharged. Air India stated that it was an “unfortunate incident” and that such cases are extremely rare. However, the airline has taken precautionary measures to prevent such incidents in the future by asking the catering department to advise dry cleaners to check their facilities for any bed bug infestation and, if necessary, carry out fumigation of the facilities. There is a possibility of bugs finding their way into the aircraft through supplies.
Instances of reptiles being found onboard aircraft are not unheard of. In December last year, a snake was found in the cargo hold of an Air India Express plane from Calicut after it landed at Dubai airport. The snake was identified as a non-venomous Checkered Keelback, and the aircraft was fumigated before it was cleared for the next flight.
Such incidents highlight the need for airlines to take adequate measures to prevent any unwanted pests or creatures from getting onboard their aircraft. Besides, it is essential to have trained personnel on board who can handle such situations efficiently and ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
while such rare incidents are unpredictable, airlines must take all necessary precautions to prevent them from occurring. Air India’s prompt response to the scorpion bite incident is commendable, and its efforts to prevent such occurrences in the future should be appreciated.
