Passengers bug out over airline's unexpected in-flight pest control spray!
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Just imagine, after breathing recycled air for hours in a long-haul flight, inhaling disinfectant fumes upon landing.
Is this a common practice? If so, why are we only now hearing of this?
Recent footage surfacing online has baffled people across the globe.
The video showed a worker in high visibility clothing meticulously walking down the aisle of a commercial plane, spraying the contents of two small cans into the air.
This footage left many Australians and global travellers in shock as they raised their concerns about health and safety impacts.
Even the Aussie band Sheppard, returning from the US, were taken aback by the spraying process.
The band brought the incident to light, capturing the event on video, leaving many of their fans shocked and concerned.
Passengers were informed by the cabin crew that this spraying was for ‘pest control’ purposes—a phrase that left a few of them uneasy.
‘I've never had this happen when I've returned home on a flight,’ one commenter said, followed by a reply from another saying they would suffer from that because of their asthma.
So, what exactly is being sprayed?
It's a disinfectant designed to protect Australia from potential biosecurity threats, primarily disease-carrying insects.
These efforts are spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF), which manages the aircraft disinsection process in Australia, along with implementing a variety of other viable biosecurity measures to certify and maintain standards.
‘All international aircraft arriving in Australia are required to undertake one of the four approved aircraft disinsection methods to control exotic mosquito disease vectors on board the aircraft,’ they said.
Insecticides can be applied at different intervals, such as prior to passenger boarding, before departure, and during times when the aircraft is unoccupied.
The aerial disinsection method captured in the video is usually a backup option as it's considered the most invasive for passengers.
This is why it is used in instances when an airline has not met certification or failed to perform other disinsection operations.
Airlines must inform passengers about the procedure before it is implemented.
‘The announcement briefly explains the process, and asks travellers with medical conditions, that may be affected by the disinsection process, to identify to airline cabin crew prior to the disinsection on-arrival commencing,’ the DAFF explained.
Thankfully, for most travellers, the approved insecticide sprays used will not have an adverse effect.
However, some passengers have reported feeling ill post-spraying.
One online comment shared a deeply concerning experience: 'An air hostess once held this bottle so low it sprayed into my sister's face, and she was violently ill,' they wrote.
It is a sigh of relief that the DAFF has confirmed this method is in ‘less frequent’ use now than in previous years compared to other methods.
You can watch the video footage here:
While this measure might be a little intimidating for some, it is required to prevent potential biohazards from entering the country.
Recently, an incident, involving a ship this time, highlighted the importance of measures like this against insects that might contain diseases.
What do you think about this pest control practice? Is this your first time hearing about it, or have you experienced it before? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Is this a common practice? If so, why are we only now hearing of this?
Recent footage surfacing online has baffled people across the globe.
The video showed a worker in high visibility clothing meticulously walking down the aisle of a commercial plane, spraying the contents of two small cans into the air.
This footage left many Australians and global travellers in shock as they raised their concerns about health and safety impacts.
Aussie band Sheppard shared footage online of an airline crew spraying insect disinfectant for ‘pest control’ purposes. Credits: Tiktok / Sheppard
Even the Aussie band Sheppard, returning from the US, were taken aback by the spraying process.
The band brought the incident to light, capturing the event on video, leaving many of their fans shocked and concerned.
Passengers were informed by the cabin crew that this spraying was for ‘pest control’ purposes—a phrase that left a few of them uneasy.
‘I've never had this happen when I've returned home on a flight,’ one commenter said, followed by a reply from another saying they would suffer from that because of their asthma.
So, what exactly is being sprayed?
It's a disinfectant designed to protect Australia from potential biosecurity threats, primarily disease-carrying insects.
These efforts are spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF), which manages the aircraft disinsection process in Australia, along with implementing a variety of other viable biosecurity measures to certify and maintain standards.
‘All international aircraft arriving in Australia are required to undertake one of the four approved aircraft disinsection methods to control exotic mosquito disease vectors on board the aircraft,’ they said.
Insecticides can be applied at different intervals, such as prior to passenger boarding, before departure, and during times when the aircraft is unoccupied.
The aerial disinsection method captured in the video is usually a backup option as it's considered the most invasive for passengers.
This is why it is used in instances when an airline has not met certification or failed to perform other disinsection operations.
Airlines must inform passengers about the procedure before it is implemented.
‘The announcement briefly explains the process, and asks travellers with medical conditions, that may be affected by the disinsection process, to identify to airline cabin crew prior to the disinsection on-arrival commencing,’ the DAFF explained.
Thankfully, for most travellers, the approved insecticide sprays used will not have an adverse effect.
However, some passengers have reported feeling ill post-spraying.
One online comment shared a deeply concerning experience: 'An air hostess once held this bottle so low it sprayed into my sister's face, and she was violently ill,' they wrote.
It is a sigh of relief that the DAFF has confirmed this method is in ‘less frequent’ use now than in previous years compared to other methods.
You can watch the video footage here:
While this measure might be a little intimidating for some, it is required to prevent potential biohazards from entering the country.
Recently, an incident, involving a ship this time, highlighted the importance of measures like this against insects that might contain diseases.
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