A U.S. Airways flight bound for New York was forced to return to the gate in Atlanta because of maggots. The airline blames spoiled meat in a passenger’s suitcase.

MyFoxAtlanta reported that Flight 1537 was to make one stop in Charlotte. But passenger Dona Adamo said as the plane was taxiing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, passengers were told they would be returning to the gate because of what was called a “minor emergency.”

Adamo says passengers began to notice maggots falling from an overhead bin onto an unsuspecting passenger in seat 15A. Cell phone video shows maggots crawling on one of the seats.

“The maggots, they started to drip out of the bin in row 15,” Adamo said.

“I could see and hear a commotion behind me,” Adamo said. “A couple of women getting very upset, so a flight attendant came back and told them to sit down, and then one particular woman got out of her seat and started tapping herself.”

The passengers were taken back to the gate and deboarded so the mess could be cleaned up.

U.S. Airways spokesman Todd Lemacher released the following statement:

“A passenger had brought a container of spoiled meat onto the plane. After it was discovered, all passengers were checked to make sure no other carry-on items had been contaminated and the passenger with the spoiled meat was re-accommodated on another airline. The U.S. Airways aircraft continued with its passengers on to Charlotte, where the aircraft has been taken out of service and will be fumigated as precautionary measure.”

The flight then continued to Charlotte where the plane was taken out of service and fumigated. Passengers boarded another plane to New York.

(Source: MyFoxNY)