Tarantula report grounds plane in Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- British Airways said a plane was grounded in Scotland following a passenger's report of a tarantula crawling between his legs.

Officials said the man alerted flight staff on the Airbus A319, which arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, from London, that he had spotted a tarantula between his legs on the plane during the trip, and the plane was grounded, causing at least one flight to be canceled, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Engineers searched the plane and a specialist was flown in from London to fumigate the aircraft, but no sign of a tarantula was found. Officials said none of the other 82 passengers on the plane reported seeing the spider.

"There is the odd spider that comes in cargo such as fruit, but it is very unusual to have such a report on a U.K. flight," a British Airways spokesman said.