ATLANTA – Maggots falling from an overhead bin that held a container of spoiled meat forced a US Airways flight to return to the gate so the bin could be cleaned.

A passenger on the Monday flight bound for Charlotte, N.C., had the container in a carry-on bag, said U.S. Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher.

The maggots were discovered as the plane was taxiing, and the pilot announced they were returning to the gate because of a “minor emergency.”

Once the plane returned to the gate, the passengers were asked to get off, and a crew boarded to clean up the mess, Lehmacher said. The flight then continued on to Charlotte.

The passenger who brought the meat on board was put on another flight, Lehmacher said. It’s unclear why the spoiled meat was brought on the plane.