Overview

• A green tree snake was spotted in the cargo hold of Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport during boarding on July 1, triggering a roughly two-hour departure delay.
• Snake catcher Mark Pelley arrived after security checks and secured the nonvenomous reptile within 30 seconds of entering the cargo hold.
• Pelley warned that if the snake had slipped into the aircraft panels it could have forced an evacuation or dismantling of the plane.
• The reptile has been transferred to a Melbourne veterinary clinic where it remains under quarantine observation.
• After meeting strict quarantine requirements, the snake will be handed over to a licensed snake keeper for permanent rehoming.