A Japan Airlines flight was cancelled on Monday after a 40cm snake was discovered slithering beneath the carpet in the passenger cabin, prompting a day-long search and an apology from the carrier.
The stowaway reptile was spotted aboard a Japan Air Commuter vessel as crew prepared the cabin for pushback. A mechanic stationed at Fukuoka Airport first noticed the serpent under the floor carpet close to 1pm, according to Kyodo News.
The service was scheduled to depart for Kagoshima prefecture around that hour, having arrived earlier the same day from Izumo airport.
Mystery Over Snake's Origin
Authorities remain puzzled over how the animal managed to enter the passenger area, noting that such occurrences are unprecedented. Japan Airlines said in a statement: "As far as we can determine, there has never been a case of a snake getting into the cabin. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to passengers."
The incident forced the complete cancellation of the flight and triggered a day-long search operation led by a wildlife control professional, who was unable to determine the snake's origin.
Similar Incident in June
This event mirrors a similar scare in June, when a mildly venomous serpent broke loose mid-flight on a crowded aircraft travelling from Mexico to the UK. The mock viper remained hidden during the overnight trip until a cleaner discovered it after landing at Gatwick Airport.
Following that sighting, aerospace engineers and wildlife specialists conducted an unsuccessful search across the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in a failed attempt to locate the creature.
