Scorpion Forces United Flight To Return To Gate In Houston

HOUSTON, TX — First a dead rabbit, then a woman allegedly forced to urinate in a cup, now another scorpion: United Airlines is having a strange year, and that's without factoring in the case of Dr. David Dao, the man who was violently dragged off a United flight in April.

A United flight originating at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport and headed to Quito, Ecuador, was forced to return to the gate on Thursday evening after a scorpion emerged from a passenger's clothing. The airline, out of precaution, arranged for a new aircraft for the flight, which proceeded without further incident. The man, according to airline officials, declined medical treatment.

United released the following statement via email:

Houston to Quito flight 1035 returned to the gate after a scorpion reportedly emerged from a customer's clothing. Paramedics at the gate immediately examined the customer and determined that he had not been stung. The customer declined further medical treatment and, as a precaution, a new aircraft was arranged. We provided all passengers with a meal voucher due to the delay and the flight, with the customer aboard, has departed for Quito.

Thursday's incident was the second one involving a scorpion this year for United; in April, a man on a flight from Houston to Calgary was stung by one of the aggressive creatures.

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Image: flickr/Matt Reinbold