A TUI Airways flight from Mexico to the UK became the scene of a real-life thriller when a venomous snake escaped and slithered through the cabin. The stowaway, believed to be a mildly venomous mock viper, was discovered by a cleaner after the plane landed at London Gatwick on Friday, June 5.
Passengers Unaware of the Stowaway
None of the 345 passengers on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner noticed the reddish-brown snake, which is thought to have been smuggled onto the aircraft in Cancun. The reptile was spotted by a cleaner who took a photograph before it disappeared.
Search Efforts Underway
Engineers and animal experts have searched the aircraft, but the snake remains missing. The plane has been taken out of service and remains grounded. A source told The Sun: 'It beggars belief that a passenger brought the mock viper on board. The sight of the snake almost gave the airline cleaners a heart attack.'
Potential Danger
While the mock viper is only mildly venomous, its presence could have caused chaos. The source added: 'If passengers had seen the snake at 30,000ft there would have been blind panic and pandemonium on board.' The incident echoes the 2006 film 'Snakes on a Plane,' where venomous snakes are released mid-flight.
Ongoing Investigation
TUI is working with authorities to locate the snake, comparing it to 'finding a needle in a haystack.' The airline is following International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines. The flight remains out of service until the reptile is found.
