A swarm of bees on the wing of a Delta plane delays the flight for hours

News

by Yaron Steinbuch

May 4, 2023 | 1:26 p.m

It was a stinging process.

Passengers on a Delta plane wondered what all the fuss was about when workers at Houston’s Bush International Airport rushed into one of the wings.

They soon discover that a swarm of bees has surreptitiously turned up a wing head into their home — delaying their departure for Atlanta by several hours on Wednesday.

“Bee or not, Delta Flight 1682 from Houston Bush to Atlanta was delayed this afternoon after a friendly group of bees wanted to speak with our wingman, no doubt to share the latest news of flight conditions at the airport,” a Delta rep said. Houston Chronicle said.

One of the 92 passengers gave a detailed description of efforts to get rid of troublesome passengers.

“My flight out of Houston was delayed because bees gathered on the tip of one of the wings,” journalist and author. Anjali Engiti wrote on Twitterwhere she posted photos and videos of bees.

“They won’t let us get on the plane until they remove the bees. But how on earth will this happen? Won’t they leave the wing when we take off?” she wrote.

“The gate agent just announced that they are going to have someone come and look at the bees. Who? Don’t we need a bee expert to identify and remove the queen and the rest won’t follow?” Engetti continued.

“Oh no, they control pests! Sheesh will kill them. Can’t we take off with the bees and they’ll leave on their own?” I exclaimed.

The female passenger was relieved to have called the beekeeper — but then said the captain had canceled the plan because the beekeepers were not allowed to touch the plane.

To make matters worse, the captain said that “the airport doesn’t have a hose to spray her with water” and that the firefighters could not respond.

“The new plan: the captain says he’s going to get on the plane and hopes the bees will leave! He’s not optimistic though. If they leave, we’ll get on the plane,” she wrote.

Then it was touch and go for a while.

“Someone started to exit to the wing of the plane with a hose. People cheered at the gate. Then someone backed out with the hose. Everyone at the gate sighed,” she wrote.

At another point, Engetti said they tried to blow exhaust on the Squadron.

“The bees were not impressed,” she wrote.

“Oh my God. The entire cabin crew got off. Delta decided to give our Gateway another flight. Once our plane’s engine was running, the bees stayed!!! All Delta had to do was flip onto the plane.”

The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 12:25 p.m., finally took to the skies around 4:30 p.m.

Mike Sexton, aka The Bee Man, KHOU said It “took swarms of bees from locomotives, planes, and concrete walls.” He said swarms of bees are more active this time of year.

“They usually start in the south and go north,” Sexton said.

When they tire along the way, they stop to rest, which might happen on a delta wing.

“When the bees start swarming, they’ll douse themselves with handfuls of honey and take off the old queen with a bunch of workers so they won’t eat again until they actually get to a new home, so in the meantime they’re resting and conserving their energy, so they land on anything.”

Engetti was relieved when she finally made it to Atlanta.