MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – A domestic flight in Australia experienced a significant delay of two hours when a stowaway snake was discovered in the cargo hold of the aircraft. The incident occurred on Tuesday as passengers were boarding Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport, which was scheduled to fly to Brisbane.
The snake, measured at 60 centimeters (2 feet) in length, was identified as a harmless green tree snake. Mark Pelley, the snake catcher who responded to the situation, initially mistook the snake for a venomous species due to the poor visibility in the cargo hold. Reflecting on his experience, Pelley stated, “It wasn’t until after I caught the snake that I realized that it wasn’t venomous. Until that point, it looked very dangerous to me.”
Australia is renowned for having some of the most venomous snakes in the world, which likely contributed to Pelley’s anxiety upon discovering the creature on the aircraft. When he entered the cargo hold, he found the snake partially concealed behind a panel, and he was aware that it could potentially hide deeper within the aircraft if not captured quickly. Pelley communicated his concerns to airline staff and the aircraft engineer, warning them that an evacuation might be necessary if the snake managed to escape into the plane’s interior.
Pelley recounted the urgency of the situation, detailing his thoughts: “I said to them if I don’t get this in one shot, it’s going to sneak through the panels and you’re going to have to evacuate the plane because at that stage I did not know what kind of snake it was.” Fortunately, Pelley was able to successfully capture the snake on his first attempt, averting what could have been a prolonged and complicated search involving dismantling parts of the Boeing 737. He noted, “If I didn’t get it that first time, the engineers and I would be pulling apart a 737 looking for a snake still right now.”
Pelley had to drive for 30 minutes to reach the airport and was subsequently delayed by security protocols before he could assist with the snake situation. An official from the airline reported that the entire incident resulted in a delay of approximately two hours for Flight VA337.
According to Pelley, it is speculated that the green tree snake, being native to the Brisbane area, was smuggled aboard the plane concealed within a passenger's luggage and likely escaped during the two-hour flight from Brisbane to Melbourne. Due to quarantine regulations, the snake cannot be returned to its natural habitat in the wild. Instead, it is a protected species, and Pelley has turned the snake over to a veterinarian in Melbourne with the intent of finding it a suitable home with a licensed snake keeper.
The unusual event highlights the challenges airlines may face with wildlife encounters and the importance of swift action in resolving such incidents. With professionals like Pelley on hand, safety can be maintained while addressing the unexpected surprises that may come with transporting animals both domestically and internationally.
