Snake found beneath plane carpet forces Japan flight cancellation

A Japan Air Commuter flight from Fukuoka was cancelled after a 40-centimetre nonvenomous snake was found beneath the aircraft’s carpet as the crew prepared for departure. A mechanic discovered the reptile in the passenger cabin, and a wildlife expert caught it about 24 hours later, according to reports citing Kyodo News. The aircraft was due to fly to Kagoshima. The discovery was made at Fukuoka Airport while the plane was being prepared to leave. The aircraft had arrived from Izumo earlier, but the reports do not establish how the snake entered the cabin. Japan Airlines, which operates Japan Air Commuter, said it knew of no previous case of a snake getting into an aircraft cabin and apologised to passengers for the inconvenience. The airline said the snake was harmless. It suspected the animal had come from the wild, but its route aboard the plane was not determined. The cancellation followed a search for the snake after it was spotted beneath the carpet. A wildlife control expert captured it roughly a day after its discovery. The reports did not describe any injuries. The episode highlights a practical challenge for aircraft operators when an animal is found in a cabin...