Swarms of mosquitoes delay two flights in Italy and prompt the evacuation of two aircraft

An European airline was forced to evacuate two aircraft at an airport in Milan, Italy, after dense swarms of mosquitoes spread throughout the cabins, causing delays of more than three hours for two flights bound for Naples, Italy, and Alicante, Spain, according to France Info.

Passengers reported being surprised by the sudden appearance of insects throughout the plane during boarding, while cabin crew attempted to manage the situation using electric insect swatters. The crew also turned off the cabin lights in an effort to guide the mosquitoes toward the exits and reduce their presence inside the aircraft.

When the problem could not be resolved quickly, passengers were disembarked and transferred to a replacement aircraft before the two flights resumed after a delay of approximately three hours. The incident highlights the operational challenges airlines may face due to unforeseen conditions that can disrupt flight schedules and compromise standard operating procedures.