Gremlins

Gremlins are mischievous creatures of English folklore commonly depicted as small, impish beings possessing acute mechanical aptitudes, but with a penchant for prankish behavior. Gremlins are inclined to sabotage or destroy mechanical devices and appear to have a particular attraction towards aircraft.

The most famous example of a gremlin in science fiction is undoubtedly, the large, furry creature that appeared on the wing of a passenger jet in the 1963 episode of The Twilight Zone entitled "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet". This gremlin was significantly taller than the ones depicted in most mythological accounts and his body was completely colored with course, light-colored fur. In the episode, a man named Bob Wilson (played by Star Trek actor William Shatner) takes his first flight home after being released from a mental hospital. He spots the gremlin on the wing of the plane, tearing away at the metal plates that cover the engines. He tries to warn others about what he has seen, but whenever somebody looks out the window, the gremlin is gone. Bob is the only person who ever sees him. Convinced that the threat is real, Bob takes a gun from an inattentive security guard and opens the auxilary window hatch, firing at the creature until it disappears. When the plane eventually lands, Bob is taken away. Nobody notices the torn bits of plate metal over the engine, which would prove that Bob's assertions were in fact true.

Notes & Trivia

 * Gremlins were the subject of two comedy/horror films produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Joe Dante.