KHOU-TV, Houston

HOUSTON — A United Airlines flight from Houston to Ecuador was delayed Thursday evening at George Bush Intercontinental Airport after a scorpion was spotted on board the plane.

It's the second time in less than a month that one of the stinging insects has been reported on a United aircraft.

According to United, a scorpion reportedly crawled out of a passenger’s clothing Thursday on Flight 1035 as the flight was preparing to take off from Bush and travel to Quito, Ecuador. Paramedics examined the passenger and determined that he had not been stung.

It is unclear whether a scorpion was ever found.

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Flight 1035 eventually took off, 3½ hours late, to Ecuador.

United issued the following statement Thursday evening:

"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."

On April 14, another man was stung by a scorpion on a United flight from Houston to Calgary.

United has been under increased scrutiny after a passenger was dragged by aviation police off a United Express flight April 9, leaving him with a concussion and two broken teeth. The airline needed to remove four passengers after Flight 3411 from Chicago O’Hare to Louisville had loaded to make room for crew members.