In a bizarre incident on Tuesday, passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight were unexpectedly showered with maggots as they fell from an overhead bin. The shocking occurrence unfolded when a fellow traveler brought rotting fish in their carry-on luggage, as reported in various posts on social media platform X.

The flight, which was bound for Detroit from Amsterdam, was forced to make an abrupt turnaround just an hour after takeoff. Philip Schotte, a passenger on the flight, described witnessing a woman across the aisle desperately attempting to fend off the maggots, initially mistaking the situation for a prank.

Quick actions from vigilant flight attendants led to the discovery of the source of the infestation, which was traced to an improperly packed bag stored in an overhead compartment. Inside, the flight crew encountered a repulsive sight - a rotting fish wrapped in newspaper.

Delta Air Lines promptly acknowledged the incident, issuing a statement to NBC News, where they apologized to the customers of Flight DL 133 on February 13 for the interruption caused by the improperly packed carry-on bag. The aircraft was subsequently brought back to the gate, and the affected passengers were accommodated on the next available flight. Furthermore, the aircraft was immediately removed from service for thorough cleaning.

According to data from the flight tracking site FlightAware, the Amsterdam-Detroit flight departed at 10:11 a.m. local time and arrived back at the same airport less than two hours later, at noon. Meanwhile, Airlive, an aviation news website, reported that the contaminated carry-on bag was safely disposed of by being placed into another bag and subsequently incinerated.

While incidents involving pests on flights are rare, this unexpected occurrence has certainly left an indelible mark on the affected passengers. Delta Air Lines assured customers that they are committed to ensuring the safe and comfortable travel of their passengers. They have emphasized the importance of adhering to proper packing regulations to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

As the affected passengers continue their journeys, they can only hope that such a peculiar and unsettling experience will forever remain a distant memory.