I’ve had it with these snakes on a plane! Shocked AirAsia passenger films serpent in overhead compartment prompting emergency landing
- Passengers on an AirAsia flight were surprised to see an unwelcome traveller
- The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching had to make an emergency landing
- The airline confirmed no one was at risk and that snakes on planes are common
This is the moment a Samuel L Jackson blockbuster became a real life as a stunned AirAsia passenger filmed a snake slithering inside an overhead compartment on a plane, prompting an emergency landing.
The incident took place on board an AirAsia flight from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur headed for the city of Tawau earlier this week (February 10).
The flight was quickly diverted to the Malaysian city of Kuching after the animal was spotted by passengers over their heads.
Footage posted on TikTok shows the silhouette of the snake travelling along a lit overhead compartment near the passenger reading light.
Once the pilot had made the emergency landing, passengers were safely transferred to another flight and travelled onto Tawau.
Although a rare occurrence, snakes have been known to find their way onto planes, the airline said.
‘This is a very rare incident which can occur on any aircraft from time to time,’ AirAsia Safety Officer Captain Liong Tien Ling said.
‘The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is always our top priority.. At no time was the safety of guests or crew at any risk.’
The incident took place on board an AirAsia flight from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur headed for the city of Tawau earlier this week (February 10)
Footage posted on TikTok shows the silhouette of the snake travelling along a lit overhead compartment near the passenger reading light.
He added the airline was ‘aware of an incident on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau on Thursday.’
It’s not clear how the reptile boarded the plane or if it was the beloved pet of one of the passengers.
Commenting on the video, Netizen ‘Emylia Lien Sundang’ said: ‘I am reminded of the movie ‘Snakes on a Plane’!’
While Siti Nur Fatihah wrote: ‘Seriously? So scary!’