Passengers alarmed after bat flies through Spirit Airlines plane: 'I'll never fly Spirit again'
Passengers were caught off guard after a bat flew freely through an airborne plane headed to New Jersey.
People on board took to social media to share videos of the bat, which made an appearance about halfway through a 6 a.m. Spirit Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C. to Newark, N.J. on Wednesday. One video shows a person running down the aisle as others screamed as the bat swooped through the plane.
One passenger, Peter Scattini tweeted about the incident, writing “Me, twice a year: ‘i’ll never fly spirit again.’ Me, this morning, after deciding i’d rather save 12 dollars.”
me, twice a year: “i’ll never fly spirit again.”
me, this morning, after deciding i’d rather save 12 dollars: pic.twitter.com/ASqk3bb89j— Peter Scattini (@jpscattini) July 31, 2019
In a different video posted to Twitter, passengers laugh while watching the bat fly overhead. “It’s the bat-plane,” one person says.
“It’s the Batmobile. Hey Batman,” a woman responds.
Passenger captures a bat flying through the cabin on a Spirit Airlines flight to Newark. https://t.co/yWd0d6jdsD pic.twitter.com/BoCVRHZ9Cj
— Breaking Aviation News (@breakingavnews) August 2, 2019
According to a tweet from Scattini, who did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment, the bat appeared 30 minutes into the flight, but someone on board was able to contain the situation by trapping it between a book and cup and locking it in a restroom.
i also want to make clear that this bat appeared WHILE WE WERE 30 MINUTES INTO OUR FLIGHT. Where it came from? No idea. Eventually someone trapped it between a book & a cup and then locked it in one of the restrooms for the remainder of the trip #spiritairlines @SpiritAirlines https://t.co/1Z6ivdZjjn
— Peter Scattini (@jpscattini) August 1, 2019
A Spirit Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident to Yahoo Lifestyle.
“The bat was eventually corralled into a lavatory and removed once on the ground by animal control officers. The aircraft was disinfected and searched as a precaution,” the spokesperson says. “It is believed the bat started its journey in Charlotte, flying into an overhead bin while our crews were doing overnight maintenance. No one was hurt in this incident, including the bat.”
The video went viral on Twitter, with hundreds of people joking about the airline, including The Late Show host Stephen Colbert.
“I can’t believe there was a bat on a Spirit Airlines flight,” Colbert’s tweet reads. “I’ve only ever seen raccoons.”
I can’t believe there was a bat on a Spirit Airlines flight. I’ve only ever seen raccoons.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) August 2, 2019
Others joined in the ribbing.
I meannnnnn...the airline is named 'Spirit' 👻🦇🤷🏾?♀?
— Ray Dennis 🇻🇮 🏁 (@raydennis) August 2, 2019
“Sir, the fasten seatbelt sign is on.”
— Kyle Prue (@KylePrue) August 1, 2019
Have they checked if any of the passengers was missing?
— Godzillo (@godzillo_) August 1, 2019
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