Forget About Snakes! Alaska Flight Proves Scorpions Are the Real In-Flight Menace

An Alaska flight from Los Angeles to Portland was getting ready to take off when a passenger was stung by a stowaway scorpion, forcing the plane to return to the terminal.

Alaska Airlines’ customer service turned heroic on a Saturday evening flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Portland International Airport (PDX) as flight attendants swung into action and smashed a scorpion that had just stung a passenger onboard.

According to an ABC News report, the unnamed female passenger who suffered a venomous sting on her hand from the tropical arachnid remained calm, joking with crew and other passengers as the aircraft taxied back to its gate so she could receive medical treatment.

The flight was delayed for nearly an hour while maintenance workers inspected the plane for signs of any other creepy stowaways. The flight eventually made it to PDX, where the aircraft was thoroughly inspected and treated by exterminators.

Alaska spokesman Cole Cosgrove told ABC News: “We don’t know exactly how the scorpion made it on the plane.” Cosgrove did note, however, that the flight originated at Cabo San Lucas International Airport (CSL) before arriving at LAX.

Amazingly, this is not the first time a passenger has suffered a scorpion sting on an Alaska flight. Jeff Ellis was stung by a scorpion on a June 2011 flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). The plane involved in that arthropod attack had previously spent time on the ground in Texas.

[Photo: iStock]