GSXR_Boy
Very Well-Known Member
Darwin pilot finds snake in cockpit
A Darwin pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after discovering a large snake slithering around his feet just moments after takeoff.
Air Frontier pilot Braden Blennerhassett had been in the air 10 minutes after taking off from Darwin Airport when he realised he had company in the cabin.
"My blood pressure and heart rate was a bit elevated — it was an interesting experience," Mr Blennerhassett told Nine News.
The 26-year-old quickly diverted the small plane back to Darwin and warned air traffic control about his situation.
"As the plane was landing the snake was crawling down my leg, which was frightening," he said.
Mr Blennerhassett parked the plane off the runway and a firefighter from the airport went to inspect it, finding the snake and a green tree frog.
Both animals had disappeared by the time a Parks and Wildlife ranger arrived to capture them.
Ranger Sally Heaton said the snake, believed to be a golden tree snake, may have been enticed onto the plane by the frog (Read more: frog hitches ride with snake to flee floods).
But with the snake's whereabouts unknown, the plane remains grounded.
"The airplane is in for maintenance at the moment, so it will be pulled apart and the snake will be found," Mr Blennerhassett said.
Golden tree snakes are a non-venomous species that can grow up to 1.5 metres long.
A Darwin pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after discovering a large snake slithering around his feet just moments after takeoff.
Air Frontier pilot Braden Blennerhassett had been in the air 10 minutes after taking off from Darwin Airport when he realised he had company in the cabin.
"My blood pressure and heart rate was a bit elevated — it was an interesting experience," Mr Blennerhassett told Nine News.
The 26-year-old quickly diverted the small plane back to Darwin and warned air traffic control about his situation.
"As the plane was landing the snake was crawling down my leg, which was frightening," he said.
Mr Blennerhassett parked the plane off the runway and a firefighter from the airport went to inspect it, finding the snake and a green tree frog.
Both animals had disappeared by the time a Parks and Wildlife ranger arrived to capture them.
Ranger Sally Heaton said the snake, believed to be a golden tree snake, may have been enticed onto the plane by the frog (Read more: frog hitches ride with snake to flee floods).
But with the snake's whereabouts unknown, the plane remains grounded.
"The airplane is in for maintenance at the moment, so it will be pulled apart and the snake will be found," Mr Blennerhassett said.
Golden tree snakes are a non-venomous species that can grow up to 1.5 metres long.
