A swarm of bees “clamped themselves on to the window” of an Air Vistara plane parked in Kolkata. The fire department was called, and used a water cannon to disperse the bees.
The A320neo, registration VT-TNC, was scheduled to fly to Delhi last Sunday and delayed by about an hour. According to the airport’s director,
Fire brigade personnel sprayed water from water cannons on the swarm of bees to drive them away. Following the back to back incidents, a team of officials from Kolkata airport searched the area and sprayed insecticide in the surrounding places. However, even after an extensive search, no beehives were spotted in the zone
Bees swarming planes isn’t uncommon. Here are bees swarming a Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330 in Ho Chi Minh City:
Several years ago I wrote about American Airlines being busy as bees calling a beekeeper not once but twice for the same aircraft. Approximately 1000 bees swarmed the cargo door of a 767, and the flight was delayed because no one could access it.
They called a beekeeper who captured the queen bee and swarm and then airline employees finished unloading the aircraft. Shortly after the beekeeper left, another swarm showed up and the beekeeper was called back, captured the swarm, and then the airline finished loading cargo and bags.
I have a friend whose car somehow attracted a swarm of bees last year. A beekeeper had to be called in. Apparently the swarms are worth some money as my friend got $300 as a thanks from the beekeeper, so she was happy.
It would bee much more efficient and better for the bees to use smoke.
When I first looked I thought it was a hole right through the plane !
At least they could have served complimentary honey on board
Unnecessary and cruel. It would have been far better to bring in a bee-keeper.
Whoever authorised the water cannon should be charged with abuse, fined and/or jailed…