Scorpion stings passenger on United flight

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

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Here’s one from the “this happens far more often than it should” department: A stowaway scorpion (yes, scorpion!) stung a passenger on a recent United flight from Chicago to Vermont. The stingee, one David Sullivan of Stowe, Vermont, killed the little critter and was treated and released after the flight.

Such incidents, reports the AP’s David Gram, are not exactly unheard of, either: An American Airlines flight was delayed for an hour in Toronto over the weekend because a passenger was stung by a scorpion on that plane, as well.

Seriously, am I missing something here? New terrorist plot, maybe? Why are there scorpions on our airplanes?

Somebody call Samuel L. Jackson and tell him I have an idea for a sequel to Snakes on a Plane. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go check my luggage for stowaways.

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