Snake on a plane delays Virgin Australia Flight for two hours in Melbourne to Brisbane
Share this @internewscast.com

An Australian domestic flight was delayed for two hours after a stowaway snake was found in the plane’s cargo hold, officials said on Wednesday.

A snake was discovered on Tuesday while passengers were boarding Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport, set to depart for Brisbane, as reported by snake catcher Mark Pelley.

The snake turned out to be a harmless 2-foot green tree snake.


The Snake Hunter, Mark Pelley, lifts the harmless 2-foot stowaway green tree snake from the cargo hold of a plane at Melbourne Airport on July 1, 2025.
The Snake Hunter, Mark Pelley, lifts the harmless 2-foot stowaway green tree snake from the cargo hold of a plane at Melbourne Airport on July 1, 2025. AP

But Pelly said he thought it could be venomous when he approached it in the darkened hold.

“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,” Pelley said.

Most of the world’s most venomous snakes are native to Australia.

When Pelley entered the cargo hold, the snake was half hidden behind a panel and could have disappeared deeper into the plane.

Pelley said he told an aircraft engineer and airline staff that they would have to evacuate the aircraft if the snake disappeared inside the plane.

“I informed them that if I didn’t catch it in one go, it would slip through the panels, necessitating an evacuation of the plane because I wasn’t yet sure of the snake’s species,” Pelley explained.


A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 sits on the tarmac in Australia on June 4, 2025.
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 sits on the tarmac in Australia on June 4, 2025. Getty Images

“Fortunately, I managed to catch it on my initial attempt,” Pelley continued. “Had I missed, the engineers and I would currently be dismantling a Boeing 737 searching for the snake.”

Pelley said he had taken 30 minutes to drive to the airport and was then delayed by security before he could reach the airliner.

An airline official said the flight was delayed around two hours.

Because the snake is native to the Brisbane region, Pelley suspects it came aboard inside a passenger’s luggage and escaped during the two-hour flight from Brisbane to Melbourne.

For quarantine reasons, the snake can’t be returned to the wild.

The snake, which is a protected species, has been given to a Melbourne veterinarian to find a home with a licensed snake keeper.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Father arrested for murder after 2-year-old son Xavier Padilla-Aguilera was swept away by Southern California floodwaters

Father Detained on Murder Charges Following Tragic Drowning of 2-Year-Old Son Xavier Padilla-Aguilera in Southern California Floodwaters

A tragic incident in Barstow, California, has led to the arrest of…
Florida mother accused of killing her son, sheriff says

Florida Mother Charged in Tragic Death of Her Son, Authorities Report

LAND O’LAKES, Fla. (WFLA) — In a tragic turn of events, the…
Vance warns Hamas as Gaza peace plan's Civilian Military Cooperation Center opens

US Diplomat Vance Issues Strong Warning to Hamas Amid Launch of Gaza’s New Peace Initiative Center

Vice President JD Vance delivered a stern message to Hamas on Tuesday…
SJSO weighs in on Meta's new safety features for teen accounts

St. Johns Sheriff’s Office Reviews Meta’s Enhanced Safety Tools for Teens

Understanding the latest enhancements to parental controls on teen accounts is crucial,…
Colombia’s president muses about getting 'rid of' Trump amid drug feud

Colombian President Contemplates Action Against Trump Amid Ongoing Drug Dispute

WASHINGTON — In a startling interview, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro voiced provocative…
Attempted murder suspect with four prior cases walks free on $9.5K bond after brutal trail attack

Suspect in Attempted Murder, with Four Prior Charges, Released on $9.5K Bond Following Violent Trail Assault

Florida trail attack suspect escorted to sheriff’s cruiser Jacoby Tillman, a 23-year-old…
Protests erupt as ICE agents raid NYC Chinatown street vendors allegedly selling counterfeit goods

ICE Agents Conduct Raids on NYC Chinatown Vendors Amid Counterfeit Goods Allegations, Sparking Protests

In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, a federal operation in…
Convicted felon federally charged after threatening Atlanta airport while armed with AR-15 rifle

Armed Felon Faces Federal Charges After Threatening Atlanta Airport with AR-15: A Chilling Security Breach

A Georgia resident is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to “shoot…
'21st Century Digital Watergate': Another GOP Senator’s Phone Records Were Targeted by Biden’s DOJ

Biden’s DOJ Under Fire: Allegations of Targeting GOP Senator’s Phone Records in ‘Digital Watergate’ Scandal

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has reportedly had his phone records subpoenaed…
FWC investigating after finding crocodile with spear in the back of its head

Florida Wildlife Commission Probes Disturbing Crocodile Spearing Incident in State’s Waters

Efforts by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers and experts…
King David hotel kicked a woman out of a main suite — JD Vance wanted it

King David Hotel Evicts Woman from Main Suite to Accommodate JD Vance

Veep’s Kingly Mideast move A well-connected acquaintance is currently in Jerusalem, mingling…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson discuses budget plan, lawsuit against President Donald Trump

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Outlines Budget Strategy and Addresses Lawsuit Against Former President Donald Trump

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson has introduced a $16.6 billion budget…