Overview
- A pilot reported seeing something moving near the cockpit floor before departure, and Japan Air Commuter searched the cabin before cancelling JAL flight 3653 for safety reasons.
- The flight was scheduled on Monday for the short regional leg from Fukuoka to Kagoshima after the aircraft arrived from Izumo and had 43 passengers booked.
- JAC decided to cancel the service around 2:00 p.m. on Monday while crews inspected the plane because an unlocated animal could harm passengers or interfere with systems.
- By the next day crews found a live snake about 40 centimeters long living under the cabin carpet, and JAC said the animal was likely a small wild creature rather than a passenger pet.
- The airline has kept the aircraft grounded for further inspection and review, and the incident highlights how wildlife ingress can disrupt quick regional turnarounds and force extra maintenance and passenger disruption.