A FLIGHT in Australia was delayed for two hours after a stowaway snake was found in the plane’s cargo hold.
The reptile was discovered as passengers were boarding Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport, which was bound for Brisbane.
Mark Pelley, a professional snake catcher, initially thought it could be venomous when he approached the snake in the dimly lit hold. However, it was later identified as a harmless 60cm green tree snake.
Mr Pelley shared that he initially feared the snake’s potential danger, adding that once he caught the snake, he realized it wasn’t venomous. He noted the speed at which snakes could move and the challenge of catching one within a confined space like an aircraft.
Mr Pelley informed the airline staff and an aircraft engineer that they would need to evacuate the plane if the snake escaped into the aircraft. He managed to capture the snake on his first attempt, preventing a lengthy search operation.
The snake, a species native to the Brisbane area, was likely brought on board in a piece of luggage and escaped. Mr Pelley speculated this, noting the rarity of snakes being found on planes.
Given that the snake is a protected species, it can’t be returned to the wild for quarantine reasons. It has been handed over to a Melbourne vet who will find a suitable home for it with a licensed snake keeper.
