In May 2024, ground crews at Indira Gandhi International Airport encountered an unusual problem when a large swarm of bees settled on the outside of an aircraft preparing for departure. Rather than attempting to disperse the insects immediately, airport officials called in trained beekeepers to remove the swarm safely.

The operation temporarily delayed the affected flight while specialists carefully relocated the bees, ensuring the safety of both passengers and the insects. Airport operations elsewhere continued as normal, and the incident was resolved without injuries.

Although unusual, bee swarms at airports are not unheard of. Swarming is a natural behavior in which a honeybee colony divides, with a queen and thousands of worker bees leaving to establish a new nest. During this process, the bees often cluster on trees, buildings, vehicles—or, in rare cases, aircraft—while scout bees search for a permanent home.

Modern airports devote significant resources to wildlife hazard management, which usually focuses on birds because of the risk of bird strikes. However, airports also prepare for encounters with insects and other animals that could interfere with ground operations or passenger safety.