A 52-year-old woman was stung by a scorpion at Düsseldorf Airport after the animal had been hiding in her jacket following a trip from Kos. Airport emergency services treated her on site before she was transferred to a university clinic, while specialists identified the creature as a Yellow Mediterranean scorpion, a venomous species that can cause medically significant symptoms.
The incident unfolded after the passenger put on the jacket shortly after landing, triggering the sting. Düsseldorf Fire Department personnel, a reptile expert and the poison centre were brought into the response as the animal was captured and later taken to a reptile zoo near the city. The woman remained conscious and stable during the initial treatment, with her further medical outcome not fully detailed.
The case is an unusual example of a stowaway animal creating a health issue inside an airport environment. It also underlines the need for careful baggage and clothing checks after travel to warmer regions, where small venomous animals can be carried unnoticed on board.