Remember when Snakes on a Plane was just a movie? Not anymore
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Unexpected disruptions during air travel can be frustrating—but sometimes, they’re caused by more than just weather or technical issues.
A routine flight from Melbourne to Brisbane recently encountered a most unusual hitch, prompting swift action from airline staff and a call for expert help.
What unfolded on the tarmac was equal parts bizarre and impressive, leaving passengers with quite the story to tell.
An ordinary afternoon flight from Melbourne to Brisbane turned into an unexpected drama that left passengers stuck on the tarmac for nearly two hours—and the reason was something no one saw coming.
Just moments before Virgin Australia flight VA337 was due to depart, an unwelcome guest was discovered lurking where few would think to look.
Crew members, spotting movement in the cargo hold, swiftly shut the door and alerted authorities.
But it wasn’t a mechanical fault or baggage issue that caused the commotion…it was something far more slippery.
Enter professional snake catcher Mark Pelley, better known as ‘The Snake Hunter’, who received an urgent call for help.
‘I got a call from Virgin Australia. They said, “There’s a snake on a plane, can you come now?” I raced out there,’ Pelley shared.
The delay only grew as Pelley made his way to the airport. Although it took him just 30 minutes to arrive, security checks added another 15 minutes to the clock—precious time when a reptile was potentially roaming on board.
By then, passengers had already boarded and were left waiting on the tarmac while the situation unfolded behind the scenes.
Pelley knew the stakes were high.
‘If I didn’t get it on the first go, it could’ve escaped behind the panels and into the plane. So I had to rush and get it quickly,’ he said.
‘Thankfully, it didn’t get too far.’
Incredibly, it took him just 30 seconds to catch the reptile and contain it. The intruder was later confirmed to be a green tree snake—a non-venomous species common in Queensland, where the aircraft had flown in from earlier in the day.
According to Pelley, it likely hitched a ride by hiding inside a passenger’s luggage and only made its presence known shortly before takeoff.
‘It’s likely someone accidentally packed it in their luggage, and it got out during the flight,’ he explained.
Despite the unusual nature of the incident, Pelley commended Virgin Australia for their quick and careful response.
‘This kind of thing could happen anytime, anywhere in Australia. At no point were any passengers at risk,’ he said.
The snake has since been handed over to environmental authorities and is expected to be returned to the wild.
Though Pelley had responded to airport calls before, this job stood out.
‘I’ve been called to the airport before, but never into the plane itself. I’ve dealt with brown snakes in offices, inside infrastructure and support buildings.’
And, in one unforgettable moment: ‘Once, I even had to clear a snake off the runway. I had to drive my car onto the tarmac to remove it, planes were delayed just to let me do my job.’
Flight VA337 was scheduled to depart at 4:10 pm, but takeoff was delayed until around 6:23 pm. The flight finally landed in Brisbane just after 8:30 pm—with passengers no doubt eager to be back on solid, snake-free ground.
Want to hear straight from the man who caught the snake? His story’s even better when he tells it—watch here.
With air travel throwing up surprises like this, it makes you wonder—what’s the strangest delay you’ve ever experienced on a trip? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we covered the astonishing moment a plane passenger opened an emergency exit door mid-flight, simply because they wanted some ‘fresh air’.
For seniors who remember a time when air travel was more formal—and far less chaotic—it’s another sign of how much things have changed.
If today’s sky-high antics leave you scratching your head, that story is worth a look too.
Read more: Plane passenger opens emergency exit door for 'fresh air'
A routine flight from Melbourne to Brisbane recently encountered a most unusual hitch, prompting swift action from airline staff and a call for expert help.
What unfolded on the tarmac was equal parts bizarre and impressive, leaving passengers with quite the story to tell.
An ordinary afternoon flight from Melbourne to Brisbane turned into an unexpected drama that left passengers stuck on the tarmac for nearly two hours—and the reason was something no one saw coming.
Just moments before Virgin Australia flight VA337 was due to depart, an unwelcome guest was discovered lurking where few would think to look.
Crew members, spotting movement in the cargo hold, swiftly shut the door and alerted authorities.
Snake spotted in plane’s cargo hold. Image source: Facebook/TODAY
But it wasn’t a mechanical fault or baggage issue that caused the commotion…it was something far more slippery.
Enter professional snake catcher Mark Pelley, better known as ‘The Snake Hunter’, who received an urgent call for help.
‘I got a call from Virgin Australia. They said, “There’s a snake on a plane, can you come now?” I raced out there,’ Pelley shared.
The delay only grew as Pelley made his way to the airport. Although it took him just 30 minutes to arrive, security checks added another 15 minutes to the clock—precious time when a reptile was potentially roaming on board.
By then, passengers had already boarded and were left waiting on the tarmac while the situation unfolded behind the scenes.
Pelley knew the stakes were high.
‘If I didn’t get it on the first go, it could’ve escaped behind the panels and into the plane. So I had to rush and get it quickly,’ he said.
‘Thankfully, it didn’t get too far.’
Incredibly, it took him just 30 seconds to catch the reptile and contain it. The intruder was later confirmed to be a green tree snake—a non-venomous species common in Queensland, where the aircraft had flown in from earlier in the day.
According to Pelley, it likely hitched a ride by hiding inside a passenger’s luggage and only made its presence known shortly before takeoff.
‘It’s likely someone accidentally packed it in their luggage, and it got out during the flight,’ he explained.
Despite the unusual nature of the incident, Pelley commended Virgin Australia for their quick and careful response.
‘This kind of thing could happen anytime, anywhere in Australia. At no point were any passengers at risk,’ he said.
The snake has since been handed over to environmental authorities and is expected to be returned to the wild.
Though Pelley had responded to airport calls before, this job stood out.
‘I’ve been called to the airport before, but never into the plane itself. I’ve dealt with brown snakes in offices, inside infrastructure and support buildings.’
And, in one unforgettable moment: ‘Once, I even had to clear a snake off the runway. I had to drive my car onto the tarmac to remove it, planes were delayed just to let me do my job.’
Flight VA337 was scheduled to depart at 4:10 pm, but takeoff was delayed until around 6:23 pm. The flight finally landed in Brisbane just after 8:30 pm—with passengers no doubt eager to be back on solid, snake-free ground.
Want to hear straight from the man who caught the snake? His story’s even better when he tells it—watch here.
With air travel throwing up surprises like this, it makes you wonder—what’s the strangest delay you’ve ever experienced on a trip? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we covered the astonishing moment a plane passenger opened an emergency exit door mid-flight, simply because they wanted some ‘fresh air’.
For seniors who remember a time when air travel was more formal—and far less chaotic—it’s another sign of how much things have changed.
If today’s sky-high antics leave you scratching your head, that story is worth a look too.
Read more: Plane passenger opens emergency exit door for 'fresh air'
