Thread by @AnjaliEnjeti

My flight leaving Houston is delayed because bees have congregated on the tip of one of the wings. They won’t let us board until they remove the bees. But how on earth will this happen? Won’t they leave the wing when we take off?

The gate agent just announced that they’re getting someone to come look at the bees. Who? Don’t we need a bee expert to identify the queen and remove her and won’t the rest follow?

Oh no they’re getting pest control! Sheesh they’re going to kill then. Can’t we just take off with the bees and they’ll leave on their own?

Oh wait —- good news — they’re getting a new keeper! They will come and collect the bees!

I’m not moving from this window. I want front row seats for this!

* bee keeper. The captain just came out here and told us about the bee keeper.

Intel from other passengers confirms the plane pulled into the gate and suddenly a mass of bees congregates on the wing.

Airport personnel: What the F?

It’s not just me snapping photos

These cones have been placed here to save this spot for the bee keeper.

Here’s my question. Will the bee keeper have to go through security? Or will they just wheel them outside to the plane?

I have to pee. But I don’t want to lose my place by this window. I’m also by a wall charger. This is first class airport seating.

Bee Keeper Welcoming Committee

More boots on the ground. What I wouldn’t give right now for a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.

Waiting for a bee keeper to de-bee an airplane is hard work. Needed some sustenance.

I was actually supposed to be on the 3:30 flight today. So glad I switched to this one!

Dude with the best window seat got fed up waiting for the bee keeper and left. I jumped into his spot. I’m now in the prime location to take video.

Update from captain himself 1.) Bee keeper isn’t allowed to touch airplanes! So they’re not coming! 2) Pest control is not allowed to spray planes. 3) airport does not have hose to spray them off with water! 4) fire department can’t come — can’t understand reason why

The new plan: captain says he’s going to taxi the plane and hope the bees leave it! He’s not optimistic though. But if they do leave we’ll board.

Disappointed a bee keeper isn’t coming! But feel bad for the captain. This flight is the last one of his workweek. He’s really ready to go home to Atlanta. Very smart move of the captain to say this as it quieted the grumbling passengers.

Will the captain’s grand plan work? Stay tuned!

Close up of the bees on the wing

The rumor is that Delta does not have another plane available for us to take. Really hoping the captain’s plan will work. I don’t think they teach this sort of thing in flight school.

Tried to blow exhaust from vehicle on the wing tip. Bees were not impressed.

I guess the captain has decided to abandon his plan to taxi the plane to see if the bees would leave the wing. Our plane is still at the gate.

Decided to chase the Doritos with M&Ms.

Safe to say that passengers get more upset with bee delays then weather delays.

Wish you could hear people on the phone here trying to explain to why our flight is delayed

Flight crew has left. Looks like I’m stuck in Houston!

Omg y’all. Entire the flight crew deplaned. Delta decided to give our gate to another flight. As soon as our plane’s engine turned on, THE BEES LEFT!!! All Delta had to do was TURN ON THE PLANE

I really wanted a more exciting end to this saga. No word though on whether our plane will go to another gate so we can all board or whether our flight will be cancelled. Hoping we actually get to Atlanta.

Would have a big highlight of my life to see a bee keeper de-bee a plane wing.

It’s going to be hard to let go of this. The disappointment is real.

We are all forlornly staring outside of the window at our plane. Big debate about whether the luggage was taken off of it or not. Have no idea whether we’ll still get on this plane or our flight will be cancelled. We are taking bets here at the gate.

Update! We, the Bee Passengers, have been moved to another gate. Our Bee Plane is meeting us here!

We’ve moved passed our frustration to joking and camaraderie. We, the mighty Bee Passengers, are going to be flying out of Houston after all.

Delta Airlines please give all of these gate agents a pay raise and the day off tomorrow. They are doing an amazing job!

Boarded the Bee Plane! No bees on this wing!

Landed in Atlanta! Grateful to be home and on the ground. Our pilot was so wonderful and did a great job giving us updates. The crew was also fabulous. I imagine the bees had the time of their lives laughing at all of us.