Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo

Two pilots in Ecuador accept bribes to fly a coffee cargo into the United States. To maximize profit, they secretly smuggle three passengers aboard as payment. This illicit setup seeds the disaster that will follow with the tarantula-laden beans.

Sacks of coffee beans are loaded into the plane's cargo hold, concealing deadly tarantulas. The spiders remain undetected during loading, ready to be carried across the skies. The stage is set for a lethal surprise.

A fierce thunderstorm rattles the aircraft, causing the tarantulas to escape their sacks. Three hidden passengers become trapped in the cargo hold with the spiders. They struggle to fend off the aggressive arachnids as the plane rocks mid-flight.

In the cockpit, the pilots contend with a developing mechanical issue that endangers the flight. Realizing the danger, they decide they must make an emergency landing as they near the California coast. Their focus on the aircraft's safety leaves the spider crisis unfolding below.

The plane crash-lands near Finleyville, triggering a surrounding fire at the wreck site. Tarantulas spill from the wreckage and begin moving toward the nearby orange grove. The town's first responders rush to the scene as chaos erupts.

Dr. Hodgins treats the first victims with baffling symptoms that defy explanation. The arrival of more bitten residents deepens the town's alarm. The clue comes slowly as doctors struggle to diagnose the illness.

Cindy Beck and her fiancé join the investigation into the crash's causes. Her brother Matthew discovers a spider but is dismissed by others who doubt his find. The family presses on despite skepticism.

The Beck family, aided by local aviators, confirms the culprits: banana spiders, known for their aggression and venom. The discovery shifts the town's understanding of the threat and its scale. Authorities grapple with whether to warn the public.

The mayor worries that news of an orange infestation could ruin the town's economy. To protect the citrus industry, officials weigh suppressing information about the danger. The fear shapes the town's response and heightens tensions.

Bert Springer joins the effort, rallying citizens to confront the spider threat. Community leaders organize search and containment efforts and set up makeshift teams. The town bands together to protect its citrus economy and residents.

Cindy's brother is bitten and incapacitated by a tarantula, and he dies despite medical efforts. His death intensifies the town's urgency to stop the spread. The tragedy becomes a turning point for public resolve.

The plan to save the town centers on exploiting the tarantulas' reaction to the buzzing of wasps. The sound stuns the spiders, allowing workers to bucket them into alcohol and kill them. A temporary power outage traps the crew, but a local teacher guides them to safety, and power returns to finish the cleanup.