Camper Unknowingly Brings Home Scorpion From Costa Rica Trip
TORONTO — Travelers on an American Airlines flight to Toronto from Miami could be excused if they were nervous fliers.

A man who was on the Sunday flight was returning from a camping trip in Costa Rica and brought along a scorpion — by accident.

Once the flight was in the air it (the scorpion) decided to venture out of a knapsack, crawl up the man's leg and bite him on the back of the knee.

When the plane landed in Toronto the man was taken away by paramedics but animal control officials say the scorpion was not lethal and the man should recover.

Understandably, passengers in Toronto waiting for the return flight to Miami weren't complaining as officials kept the plane on the ground for an hour to check for other venomous stowaways.

The scorpion apparently got through security in Costa Rica and was not detected when the American Airlines flight had a stopover in Miami.

The victim is believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s. The scorpion was killed during its capture, officials said.

"As a precaution, we did go in and search the aircraft just to see if we could find anything else," said American Airlines spokesman John Hotard, who added the incident was not completely unheard of.

"We've had cases where passengers have brought critters on board in their backpack and they get out and crawl around, but it's rare."

Passengers waiting in the departure lounge at Toronto's Terminal 2  airport were told of the situation. Some made jokes about the incident.

When passengers finally boarded the plane, the captain came on and announced: "Welcome to Scorpion Flight 1011."

Canadian authorities said no charges were pending against the man as it had obviously been an accident.