Virgin Australia flight VA337, scheduled to fly from Melbourne to Brisbane, was delayed by nearly two hours due to a highly unusual incident. While the plane was still preparing for takeoff, a snake was discovered in the cargo hold, causing widespread panic.
Snake Alert Raised Before Departure
During the final pre-flight checks, the cabin crew noticed movement in the cargo area and immediately reported the situation to authorities. Thanks to the crew’s swift action, the affected compartment was sealed off, and professional help was requested. As a result, snake expert Mark Pelley, known locally as the “Snake Catcher,” was called to the airport.
“I Had One Chance, So I Acted Quickly”
Describing the event, Mark Pelley said, “I got the call asking, ‘There’s a snake on the plane, can you come right away?’ I didn’t waste any time and headed straight there.” After clearing security at the airport, Pelley explained he was racing against time to prevent the snake from hiding behind the aircraft panels. “I had one chance and needed to act fast,” he added, managing to capture the snake and place it in a special container in just 30 seconds.
Snake Found Non-Venomous, Flight Completed Safely
Checks confirmed that the snake found on board was non-venomous. Initial findings suggest the snake may have slipped into the plane inside luggage arriving on an earlier flight that morning. Expert Mark Pelley, who has handled many incidents around the airport before, said this was his first operation inside an aircraft.
Flight Took Off Two Hours Late
After the incident was resolved smoothly, flight VA337 departed Melbourne at 18:23 and headed to Brisbane. Passengers arrived safely at their destination late at night. Virgin Australia’s swift and professional response received positive feedback on social media.
