Passenger jet in Australia held up for 2 hours due to presence of venomous snake: "That seemed hazardous to me"
A rare incident occurred on Wednesday at Melbourne Airport, as a 2-foot green tree snake was discovered in the cargo hold of a Virgin Australia Flight VA337 bound for Brisbane. The snake's presence on the plane is suspected to be the source of its discovery as passengers were boarding the flight.
The snake, a protected species native to the Brisbane region, initially appeared dangerous to snake catcher Mark Pelley, who was called to handle the situation. Pelley managed to capture the snake, preventing it from potentially disappearing deeper into the plane and causing further disruptions.
The green tree snake is known to live in warm brush and shrubs and eat frogs, lizards, small birds, and eggs. Though non-venomous, such snakes can potentially cause delays and safety concerns on flights, as was the case with this incident. The snake's presence on the plane resulted in a two-hour delay to the flight.
While snake sightings on commercial flights in Australia are uncommon, they are not unheard of. In 2013, for instance, a large python was spotted on a Qantas Airways plane. In the broader context, wildlife trafficking involving snakes and other reptiles is more frequently intercepted by customs officials on flights, especially in certain regions like between Thailand and India. However, these are usually smuggling attempts rather than accidental stowaways.
In a similar incident in 2022, an AirAsia passenger plane was forced to divert and make an unscheduled landing due to a snake on board. This latest incident marks another instance of a snake being found on a passenger jet.
For quarantine reasons, the snake cannot be returned to the wild. It has been given to a Melbourne veterinarian to find a home with a licensed snake keeper.
Passengers should not expect snakes aboard commercial flights, but occasional encounters do occur, especially when wildlife is inadvertently transported in cargo holds. It is a reminder for travellers to ensure their luggage and belongings are properly checked before boarding to prevent such incidents.
- Amidst the general-news of the rare discovery of a 2-foot green tree snake in a Virgin Australia Flight cargo hold, it's worth noting that such incidents are not entirely unheard of in science news, with similar events previously happening on Qantas Airways in 2013.
- The travel industry, too, was affected by the latest wildlife mishap as the snake's presence on the plane caused a two-hour delay, highlighting potential lifestyle disruptions that can occur due to accidents involving animals on commercial flights.
- As for the recent AirAsia incident where a passenger plane was forced to divert due to a snake on board, it seems we are witnessing yet another example of these unusual travel inconveniences, marked in the news for General-News and Lifestyle sections.
