Snake on a plane forces emergency landing
Stock photo: PA
An Australian pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after a snake slithered across his dashboard in the cockpit.
Braden Blennerhassett was doing a freight run for Air Frontier from Darwin to the remote town of Peppimenarti when the snake appeared.
The pilot made a may day call, but , according to Air Frontier director Geoffrey Hunt, even that was difficult as the snake came out near the transmit button he needed to press to talk to the air traffic control tower.
He added that Mr Blennerhassett coped with the situation well, considering Australia is home to some of the world's most venomous snakes.
The pilot himself told the Independent: "My blood pressure and heart rate was a bit elevated - it was an interesting experience," Mr Blennerhassett told an Australian news station.
"As the plane was landing the snake was crawling down my leg, which was frightening."
The plane touched down safely in Darwin, but it will stay grounded until the snake is located.
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