Airline passenger stung by scorpion in mid-flight

Alaska Airlines

An airline passenger got a surprise – and some pain – when he was stung by a scorpion during a flight from Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska.

Jeff Ellis, who lives in Oregon, told KPTV he was trying to sleep on an overnight Alaska Airlines flight on June 17 when he felt something in his sleeve and tried to brush it away.

He said he felt the crawling again, looked down and saw the culprit.

“I picked my hand up and said, ‘Oh, my God. That’s a scorpion’.”

Ellis said he grabbed the scorpion with a napkin, but not before it stung him on the elbow.

He said it caused a burning sensation.

Ellis was checked by two doctors on board and medics on the ground.

The flight originated from Austin, Texas, where Alaska Airlines officials believe the scorpion got on board.

Ellis said the airline offered him some airmiles and two round-trip tickets.

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