A stowaway snake has caused chaos at London Gatwick Airport after being spotted on a Tui flight from Cancun, Mexico, prompting a thorough search that temporarily grounded the plane. The non-venomous reptile was discovered by an airline cleaner after all passengers had disembarked the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which landed safely at 5pm on 5 June.
Tui confirmed that the snake went missing within the aircraft shortly after its discovery, leading to a series of measures being taken to locate and capture it. Traps were reportedly set, but despite efforts, the snake remained elusive. The flight's operation was eventually resumed following expert advice suggesting it was probable the snake had left the plane.
The incident is not unique in the aviation industry, with another instance reported just last summer on an Australian domestic flight. A harmless 60cm green tree snake was found in a Virgin Australia Flight's cargo hold, causing a two-hour delay as a snake catcher was called to remove it.
For UK travellers planning trips to destinations like Mexico, where crime levels are high and security can be variable, this incident serves as a reminder of the unexpected. The FCDO advises British nationals visiting Mexico to exercise a high degree of caution due to crime levels, with good security maintained in popular tourist areas such as Cancun.