Traffic & Transit
Animal Hitchhiker Makes Passengers 'Batty' On Flight To NJ: Watch
"I can't believe there was a bat on a Spirit flight," Stephen Colbert joked after hearing of the intruder. "I've only seen raccoons."
NEWARK, NJ — A “frequent flier” took an uninvited trip aboard a Spirit Airlines flight headed to Newark Airport last week, leaving a bunch of low-hanging fruit for internet pun artists in its wake.
On July 31, Peter Scattini, a passenger aboard a Spirit Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina posted a video of a bat that got loose in the cabin. The footage – which has been retweeted and liked thousands of times – shows a tiny bit of panic and a lot of bewildered confusion from the other commuters.
“Oh my god,” several whoop as the nocturnal mammal flaps around the dim cabin. Another passenger makes a run for the back of the plane, holding her shirt around her face like a mask as a fellow traveler peeks out from the bathroom.
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“It’s the Batmobile,” one passenger jokes.
- See related article: Ants Invade Flight To Newark; Passenger Tweets Play-By-Play
- See related article: Emotional Support Peacock Barred From Newark Flight (VIDEO)
A Spirit Airlines spokesperson told Patch the bat was discovered shortly after the plane started its journey to Newark.
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“It’s believed the bat started its journey in Charlotte, flying into an overhead bin while our crews were doing overnight maintenance,” the airline stated.
The bat was cornered in the airplane’s bathroom and eventually removed by animal control officers. The aircraft was disinfected and searched as a precaution. Nobody – including the bat – was harmed, Spirit Airlines stated.
As might be expected, the bat incident became fair game for online pun artists and comedians, including Montclair resident and host of “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert.
“I can’t believe there was a bat on a Spirit Airlines flight,” Colbert quipped. “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
David Spade posted a video of a satirical “exclusive interview” with the Spirit Airlines bat (spoiler: he claims he’s "slept in more comfortable coffins.")
Here are some of the other comments found online.
i would also think it was hilarious if i hadn’t been on the plane
— Peter Scattini (@jpscattini) August 2, 2019
Half the plane finna be vampires when y’all land
— Prolific New York (@iiamnewyork) August 3, 2019
One dude named Vlad.
— 100% Star Stuff (@fakecarlsagan) August 3, 2019
If the bat stays airborne does it affect the maximum takeoff weight?
— Robbert Dinero (@anphonyboloney) August 2, 2019
It's a merger pic.twitter.com/DWC5UWnHfO
— Jason Brown (@Super_Coen_Bros) August 2, 2019
i think you meant “sir, the fasten seat bat sign is on.”
— Travel2Times (@dbctravels) August 2, 2019
i think you meant “sir, the fasten seat bat sign is on.”
— Travel2Times (@dbctravels) August 2, 2019
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