Flight halted as passenger stung by scorpion
An Alaska Airlines flight was delayed after a passenger was stung by a scorpion as the plane was taxing on the runway.
The plane, which was scheduled to fly to Portland, returned to the gate at Los Angeles airport where a woman received medical attention but did not rejoin the flight.
Alaska Airlines spokesman Cole Cosgrove said Flight 567 took off about an hour behind schedule.
Flight attendants killed the scorpion and overhead luggage bins were checked for other creatures before the flight was cleared for take-off.
"No one seemed frantic at all, not even the woman who was stung. The flight attendants did a great job, as did the captain," said passenger Mike Parker, a sports announcer for Oregon State University.
The Oregon State University’s men’s basketball team were also on the flight.
It is not known how the scorpion got onboard but the plane had originated from Los Cabos, Mexico.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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