A United flight from Houston to Ecuador was delayed after a scorpion was spotted aboard.



United told KPRC-TV that Flight 1035 returned to the gate Thursday night after a scorpion "reportedly emerged from a customer's clothing." Paramedics examined the man and determined that he hadn't been stung.

Other passengers said no scorpion was found on the plane, according to KPRC.



United said it found a new aircraft for the flight and all passengers were given a meal voucher for the inconvenience.

In a statement to KPRC, United said:

"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."

The flight eventually got underway 3 1/2 hours late.



United has been under fire since a passenger was violently dragged off an overbooked flight by aviation police in Chicago on April 9.

That same day a scorpion was spotted on another United flight. The small scorpion fell from the airplane's overhead bin onto a man's head and stung him. Richard Bell said the close encounter, which didn't leave him hurt, took place on a flight from Houston to Calgary, Canada, as he and his wife were returning home from a vacation in Mexico.

Back in February, another scorpion caused a scare on an Alaska Airlines flight that had originated from Los Cabos, Mexico. The flight was delayed out of Los Angeles International Airport after a passenger was stung by the scorpion. Flight crew found and killed the arachnid. The passenger was released after being checked out by medics at the gate.