Massive Huntsman Spider Falls Onto Pilot During Plane Landing (VIDEO)

A giant huntsman spider surprised a pilot and his passengers after it dropped from the ceiling just as the single-propeller plane was about to land in Australia.

The spider, which was estimated to be around 6 inches in diameter, had been spotted inside the small plane a week earlier, but workers thought it had escaped.

Instead, it could be seen in the video hiding behind a visor and then dropping somewhere in the cabin, after it had bounced off the frightened pilot's lap.

One of the passengers just happened to be recording the plane's descent just as the spider appeared:

Huntsman spiders are also known as Giant Crab Spiders because their legs have twisted joints, allowing their legs to extend like crabs. Some have had a leg span as big as nearly 12-inches --- which makes these spiders the largest by diameter. They are venomous and can bite humans. The effects vary, but side effects could include swelling and pain, nausea, headache, vomiting, irregular pulse rate, and heart palpitations.

The life span of most Huntsman species is about 2 years or more.

Venomous spiders are rare in Iowa. The brown recluse spider’s range goes as far north as southern Iowa, but they are rarely seen and are not aggressive. Even the black widow – also rare in Iowa – will only bite in self-defense.

Wolf spiders and fishing spiders are the largest and among the most common of the spiders found in Iowa. Both are outdoor species that do not usually live indoors.

Fishing spiders are typically found in moist areas, especially along the edges of streams and lakes. Wolf spiders are usually found near shrubs or tall grass where they can find plenty of insects. Neither of these spiders uses webs to trap their food.

Here's a video of a Huntsman spider carrying a dead mouse on a wall. Fun!