A three-metre scrub python — the longest species of snake in Australia — was snapped hitching a ride on the wing of a Qantas flight en route to Port Moresby yesterday.
The snake supposedly slithered through the landing bay before climbing aboard the plane's trailing ledge flap assembly.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that passengers were only a little put off by the sight: "The people at the front were oblivious to what was going on," said passenger Robert Weber. "But the passengers at the back were all totally focused on the snake and how it might have got onto the aircraft."
The snake was initally tucked away "quite neatly" on the wing, according to Mr Weber, but bravely fought a life-and-death battle against the elements when the wind caught the last 30 centimetres of its tail, "pulling him straight out". The snake managed to hang on to the plane until it descended, but ultimately died and had to be removed from the plane by ground staff.
Lost in the media coverage of the incident was the fact that this elaborate stunt was clearly staged by the airline as a tribute to Snakes On A Plane director David R. Ellis, who died earlier this week aged 60.
Well done, Qantas, and top marks for enthusiasm. Most of all, we're just glad you didn't decide to honour Ellis' memory by staging a recreation of The Final Destination instead.
