Pilots Prank Ibiza-Bound Passengers, Suggesting They Are Still Learning to Fly

In an absurd twist that briefly commanded Ibiza-bound revelers to attention, pilots on a recent Vueling flight playfully declared they were still flipping through the aircraft's flight manual immediately prior to takeoff.

The flight crew's humorous prank aptly captures the playful spirit of one of the world's most famous party destinations. Reflecting its festive atmosphere, pilots flying to Ibiza often embrace a more lighthearted approach in their communication to passengers.

According to reporting by Simple Flying, one such instance of this phenomenon recently unfolded on a Vueling Airbus A320-200 and threw passengers for a loop. Travelers on the flight, which was en route to Ibiza from Barcelona, were momentarily taken aback when the pilots announced a delay and attributed it to their need to learn how to fly the aircraft. 

"I am sorry to inform you that we will be departing a little bit later than expected," one of the aircraft's pilots declared. "We are going to leave later than expected because my copilot and I are reading the plane’s instruction manual to know how to takeoff. But don’t worry, I think ultimately we will manage."

As it turns out, the prank was a part of a Spanish holiday observed in late December known as the Day of the Holy Innocents, which is akin to April Fool's Day in the United States. The tradition was also recently celebrated with a particularly visible prank concocted by electronic music events powerhouse elrow.

Ultimately, passengers reportedly arrived in Ibiza shortly thereafter without incident.