Passenger on United flight suffers surprise attack from a creature that fell from an overhead bin

United Airlines just can't seem to catch a break lately. From a viral controversy about leggings, to  videos of passengers being dragged off the plane, to contradictory letters from the CEO to his staff, to allegations of public corruption, the apparently hapless company is living a year-long public relations nightmare — but this latest story is not a public relations nightmare as much as it is a story straight out of a nightmare.

According to Global News Canada, Richard and Linda Bell were returning from a nice vacation in Mexico, and were flying home from Houston to Calgary on United Airlines flight 1418. Richard was minding his own business, when a small, eight legged creature fell from the overhead bin and landed in his hair.

“I look down and I thought, ‘aw, it kind of looks like a little lobster,'” says Linda.

The "lobster" was a honey colored, one-and-a-half inch long scorpion. Richard reportedly dropped it onto his plate in front of him, and picked it back up. That's when the creature stung him, reminding him of a "wasp sting."

The scorpion didn't get away with attack, as it was reportedly stomped on by another passenger, and its remains were thrown in the toilet. According to Richard, he was disappointed the scorpion was flushed away, because he wanted to show it off, saying it was the “worst thing to do because when we landed everyone wanted to see it.”

The moment they landed in Calgary, emergency personnel boarded the flight and gave Richard a thorough examination.

“The pilot announced it,” passenger John Rogers said. “Because the passenger was bitten, emergency services, the fire department and police boarded the plane.”

Richard reportedly refused treatment, and medical personnel could find no acute conditions as a result of of the sting.

United told Global News that they are looking into the incident.