(DCWatchdog.com) – A terrifying incident at Boston Logan International Airport shocked aircraft passengers and flight crew as a 40-year-old woman was stung by a scorpion while retrieving her luggage from a Mexico flight.
See the tweet below.
The alarming incident occurred over the weekend evening when the unsuspecting traveler reached for her suitcase at baggage claim.
Massachusetts State Police were quickly called to the scene as the woman experienced the painful sting from the venomous arachnid.
She was transported to a local hospital for treatment, though authorities have not released information about her condition.
The scorpion, which is not native to Massachusetts, is believed to have hitched a ride from Mexico in the woman’s luggage or possibly someone else’s luggage.
Passenger Elena Nkorsunski expressed many travelers’ frustration about the lack of proper screening: “Very hard to check for it, I’m assuming. I mean, what are you going to do check for moving things?”
While the CDC downplays most scorpion stings as non-life-threatening, they admit that some can cause severe health problems, particularly in children and the elderly.
Symptoms can include intense pain, arrhythmias, bleeding disorders, muscle spasms, shock, and even death.
Approximately 100 of the world’s 2,000 scorpion species possess venom potent enough to be fatal to humans.
A traveler was stung by a scorpion while retrieving her baggage at Logan International Airport, according to State Police. https://t.co/A2C9rHYQh2
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) March 3, 2025
Scorpion expert Dr. Carlos Santibanez described the sting sensation as “like a hot needle gets into your skin. You will feel pain, but then, that pain will become a numbness.”
He also warned that scorpions seek shelter in unknown environments: “As soon as they [scorpions] find themselves in unknown spaces, they will seek shelter, and most of the times, they will try to hide under anything that is underground.”
While TSA agents are busy confiscating water bottles from grandmothers and conducting invasive pat-downs on law-abiding citizens, deadly creatures from foreign countries are slipping through unnoticed.
“It’s a bug. It’s probably hiding somewhere. I would be concerned,” said passenger Andrew Davies.
Moreover, the CDC admitted that “scorpions can be found on every continent except Antarctica but are most commonly seen in subtropical and tropical areas of the world.”
Jessica Garb, an associate professor at UMass Lowell, called the incident “Very unusual, I have never heard of this happening.”
Nevertheless, with millions of unchecked individuals and packages crossing the borders annually, Americans must wonder how many other dangerous creatures and substances are entering the country without proper screening.
This incident adds another concern to the list for American travelers already burdened with rising ticket prices, endless security lines, and flight delays.
This incident is a reminder of the unexpected risks involved in air travel today, emphasizing the need for vigilance and better security measures.
With airport security reportedly lax, travelers must question how well current protocols protect them from unforeseen threats coming in from foreign lands.
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