Snake Found on Virgin Australia Jet, Flight Delayed 2 Hours
A Virgin Australia flight was delayed for two hours after a live snake was discovered in the cargo hold just before departure from Melbourne to Brisbane. The incident occurred on Tuesday as passengers boarded Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport.
Snake catcher Mark Pelley was called to remove the reptile, which he initially believed could be venomous. The two-foot snake, later identified as a harmless green tree snake native to Australia, was found partially hidden behind a panel in the aircraft’s cargo area.
“It wasn’t until after I caught the snake that I realized it wasn’t venomous,” Pelley said. “In the dark, it looked very dangerous to me.”
Pelley warned airline staff that if the snake escaped further into the aircraft, the entire plane might need to be evacuated. Fortunately, he successfully captured it on the first attempt.
The snake is believed to have hitched a ride from Brisbane, possibly stowed in a passenger’s luggage. Since it crossed regional boundaries, the animal cannot be returned to the wild due to quarantine regulations. It has been handed over to a Melbourne veterinarian to be rehomed with a licensed snake keeper.
Virgin Australia confirmed the flight was delayed by about two hours due to the incident.
Australia has a history of snake sightings on aircraft. Notably, in 2013, a python clung to the wing of a Qantas jet mid-flight. Similar incidents have occurred on United Airlines and AirAsia flights in recent years, highlighting rare but dramatic reptilian encounters in aviation.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cbsnews.com