

Domestic Flight Delay Caused by Live Snake on Board Leaves Passengers in Shock
On July 1, 2025, a domestic flight in Australia experienced an unusual delay when a two-foot-long snake was discovered hidden in the plane’s cargo hold just as passengers were boarding. The Virgin Australia Flight VA337, scheduled to fly from Melbourne to Brisbane, was held back for nearly two hours as professionals worked to safely remove the reptile.
What could have been a cause for panic was managed efficiently by the airline staff and a specialist snake catcher named Mark Pelley, whose quick action ensured that no passengers or crew members were harmed during the incident.

Harmless But Startling
The snake turned out to be a 60-centimeter (approximately 2-foot) green tree snake—a non-venomous species native to the Brisbane region. Despite its harmless nature, the dark conditions inside the cargo hold and the initially unknown species made the situation potentially risky.
Mr. Pelley recalled that he initially assumed the snake might be venomous due to the challenging visibility and his caution while approaching it. He emphasized that capturing the snake on his first attempt was critical, noting that had the snake escaped further into the interior panels of the Boeing 737, it would have been necessary to evacuate the plane and dismantle parts of the aircraft to retrieve it.
How the Snake Likely Got Onboard?
Authorities suspect the snake hitched a ride inside a passenger’s luggage on the previous flight from Brisbane to Melbourne. Animals such as snakes sometimes seek shelter in bags or containers, inadvertently ending up in places where they can cause disruptions.
Due to Australia’s strict quarantine regulations, the snake cannot be returned to the wild. Instead, the reptile was handed over to a Melbourne veterinarian for placement with a licensed snake keeper, ensuring its safety and the protection of local ecosystems.
Airline Safety and Passenger Experience
Although incidents involving animals aboard planes are rare, they highlight the importance of thorough baggage inspections and safety protocols. The airline and airport personnel handled the delay professionally, keeping passengers informed and calm.
Most passengers were understanding, and the flight resumed safely once the snake was securely removed, albeit with a delay of approximately two hours.
Fascinating Trivia About Snakes on Planes and Air Travel
- This is not the first time snakes have disrupted flights; Australia has experienced similar incidents due to its diverse and abundant reptile population.
- Green tree snakes, like the one found, eat frogs, lizards, small birds, and eggs, and are known to thrive in warm, bushy environments.
- Airlines have protocols for managing unexpected animal discoveries, including collaboration with animal control or specialist handlers.
- Though alarm-inducing, snakes aboard aircraft are usually accidental stowaways rather than intentional.
- Similar real-life “snakes on a plane” stories are far less dramatic than Hollywood portrayals, but can still cause significant operational delays.
Calm in the Face of a Slithering Surprise
The recent snake incident aboard a dometic flight serves as a reminder of the unexpected challenges that airline safety teams can face. It showcases the importance of professional response, airline vigilance, and passenger cooperation when unusual situations arise.
While a snake on a plane might sound like a plot from a thriller, this real-life story ended with no harm and highlights the reality behind such rare events.
If this story intrigued you, share it to spread awareness about airline safety and the fascinating encounters that sometimes occur in air travel.
Sources & Further Reading:
- People.com: Snakes on a Plane! Reptile Delays Flight After Sneaking into Commercial Aircraftpeople
- CBS News: Snake Found on Passenger Jet in Australia, Delaying Flight 2 Hourscbsnews
- The Independent: Snake on a Plane Delays Flight in Australiaindependent
- CNN: Snake on a Plane Delays a Flight in Australiacnn
- SimpleFlying: Snakes On A Plane: When Serpents Have Caused Panic Onboardsimpleflying

Bruce Campbell converted a Boeing 727-200 into a home
In 1999, a man bought a Boeing 727-200 for $100,000 and uses it as his house, then spent another $120,000 moving it from the Hillsboro airport and setting it up on his undeveloped property.

This Yogi Spent 76 Years Without Eating or Drinking Anything and Confirmed by
Prahlad Jani, the starving monk who lived 76 Years without food and water.

Belgian Woman Banned from Zoo After 4-Year Affair with Chimpanzee
A Belgian woman was banned from the zoo after having an affair with a chimp.

Sandy Island: The Phantom Island That Fooled Maps and Google Earth for Centuries
Sandy Island, charted since 1774, was long considered a phantom island in the Coral Sea. Despite appearing on maps and Google Earth, it was "undiscovered" by scientists in 2012, revealing only deep ocean instead of land. The island's existence was likely a cartographic error or a misidentified pumice raft.

This Thai Wedding Tradition Happens 40 Feet Underwater
Each year in Trang, Thailand, dozens of couples participate in an underwater wedding ceremony while scuba diving in full gear. The ritual symbolizes deep love and has become a quirky tourist attraction held around Valentine’s Day.

The story of The chicken that lived for 18 months without a head
Mike the Headless Chicken was a rooster whose head was accidentally chopped off but miraculously survived. This is due to most of the brain stem being left intact. He was fed using a special tube that delivered food directly into his esophagus. Despite his lack of a head, he lived for 18 months, gaining worldwide fame before ultimately choking on a kernel of corn during one of his tours, in a Motel in Fruita, Colorado.

The Incredible Story of Martin Laurello, The Sideshow Performer With The Revolving Head
Martin Laurello was also known as 'The human owl'. He was born with the ability to turn his head a full 180 degree.

The story of Lionel the Lion-Faced Man, Stephan Bibrowski
Stephen Bibrowski, also known as Lionel the Lion-faced Man, was a well-known sideshow entertainer. His entire body was covered in long hair, giving him the appearance of a lion; this was most likely due to a rare condition known as hypertrichosis. Lionel traveled to the United States in 1901 and began performing with the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Frank Lentini, The Three-Legged Sideshow Performer
Francesco Lentini was a man with three legs, four feet, sixteen toes, and two sets of functional male genitals. He worked for the circus and lived to be 78 years old.

The Story of the Hidden Flight Simulator Game in Microsoft Excel 97
Before smartphones ruled hidden gaming, Microsoft slipped an extraordinary secret into one of its flagship office programs: a fully functional flight simulator game inside Excel 97. This little-known Easter egg captivated users who discovered a way to pilot a plane through the grid-like interface. Explore how this unexpected feature was created, the tech magic behind it, and why it remains a legendary piece of software lore.

Upside-Down Fig Tree From The Roof Of An Ancient Ruin in Italy
There is an upside-down fig tree in Bacoli, Italy. No one is quite sure how the fig tree ended up there or how it survived, but year after year, it continues to grow downwards and bear figs.

Recipient of suicide victim's heart kills himself 12 years later
In 1995, Sonny Graham received a transplanted heart from a suicide victim. He then committed suicide in the very same manner as the donor.

Thousands of Rare "Ice Eggs" Blanket Finnish Beach in Spectacular Natural Phenomenon
Thousands of ice balls recently covered a beach in Finland, a rare phenomenon caused by wind and waves sculpting pieces of ice into smooth spheres. These "ice eggs" can vary in size from chicken eggs to soccer balls and have also been spotted in other cold regions globally.

Roller Coasters were First Invented to Distract People from sin
Roller coasters were invented to distract Americans from sin. In the 1880s, hosiery businessman LaMarcus Thompson didn’t like that Americans were going to places like saloons and brothels and created the first roller coaster on Coney Island to persuade them to go there instead.

June and Jennifer Gibbons The silent twin who Only Spoke to Each Other
Identical twins June and Jennifer Gibbons were born on 11 April 1963 at a military hospital in Aden, Yemen where their father worked as part of the Royal Air Force.

The Bizarre (And Magical) Duel Between Chung Ling Soo And Ching Ling Foo
Ching Ling Foo and Chung Ling Soo were two magicians from the early 20th century who were bitter rivals. While Ching Ling Foo was genuinely Chinese, Chung Ling Soo was actually a New Yorker named William Robinson.

The Astonishing Case of Sanju Bhagat: Living with a Twin Inside Him for 36 Years
Sanju Bhagat, an Indian farmer, lived with an undiagnosed parasitic twin inside his abdomen for 36 years. In 1999, doctors discovered the twin during surgery. This rare condition, fetus in fetu, occurs when a malformed twin is absorbed during pregnancy, surviving within the host sibling's body.

When the Sky Rained Fish: An Unbelievable Encounter Above Alaska
A small Alaskan plane was hit by a fish falling from the sky. It had been dropped by an eagle that misjudged its grip. The plane was unharmed, but it made the news as possibly the weirdest bird strike ever.

Atomic Tourism: In the 1950s, nuclear tests in Las Vegas served as a draw for tourists
Between 1950 and 1960, Las Vegas offered “Atomic Tourism” in which guests could watch atomic bombs being tested in the desert as a form of entertainment.

In 2018, a 30-year-old survived a close-range gunshot thanks to silicone implant
In 2018, a 30-year-old woman from Toronto, Canada survived a close-range gunshot thanks to her silicone breast implant. Doctors believe that the implant deflected the bullet away from her vital organs, and her only injury was a fractured rib.

Preserving Bodies in a Deep Freeze Await Revival
There are currently hundreds of deceased people in the U.S., including baseball legend Ted Williams, whose bodies are frozen in liquid nitrogen in hopes that future technology will be able to revive them.

The story of Bill Haast, who lived to be 100 despite his extensive snake venom injections
Bill Haast immunized himself by injecting snake venom into his blood for several years. He holds the Guinness World Record for surviving the most lethal snake bites, having been bitten over 172 times. Bill became known as "Snake Man" around the world and lived for over 100 years.

In Pakistan, this banyan tree has been arrested since 1898
In Pakistan, a tree has been arrested and chained since 1898. When a British officer who was drunk assumed it was leaving its place, it was arrested. The tree, which is presently located on the grounds of the Pakistan Army's Landi Kotal cantonment, continues to attract visitors and locals everywhere.

How a Man Fooled Florida with Fake Penguin Tracks for 10 Years
In 1948, Florida’s Clearwater Beach was the stage for one of the longest-running and most peculiar hoaxes in American folklore. Giant three-toed footprints appeared mysteriously in the sand, sparking rumor and fascination about a 15-foot-tall penguin roaming the shores. For a decade, locals and visitors alike speculated and scanned for the elusive creature, never realizing the truth: these tracks were made by a man wearing 30-pound lead shoes designed to imitate an enormous penguin's footprint. This article uncovers the details of this elaborate prank and its lasting legacy in Florida’s cryptic history.

Poland's Krzywy: The Mysteries of the Crooked trees
In Poland, there is a forest with 400 crooked trees that have a 90-degree bend at the base of their trunks. Despite of numerous possibilities, the real reason and how it evolved remain a mystery.