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THE TELEGRAPH (London, UK) 31 October 13 Snakes on a Plane – on an easyJet flight to Luton
Police were called to meet a plane arriving in Britain after it was discovered a passenger had sneaked a snake on board.
The reptile was kept by the passenger in a cardboard box on an easyJet flight from Israel to Luton Airport.
It is understood that the crew became aware of the snake's presence during the flight and Bedfordshire police were alerted.
Passengers took to Twitter to tell of their shock at the discovery of the reptile – believed to be a corn snake.
Hugo Allon tweeted: "My plane is being met by police because someone brought a snake on board and whipped it out mid flight. Never a dull moment with easyJet."
Danielle Stone wrote: "Snake on the plane – not your classic Tel Aviv to Luton flight!" while a woman named Zoe said: "Where was Sam L. Jackson when you need him?"
Rafi Addleston tweeted: "No Samuel L, but an actual snake on a plane. Police about to meet @easyJetarriving from Tel Aviv to Luton."
Michael Harris, wrote: "Just landed at @LDNLutonAirport with @easyJet ... Police about to board to arrest guy who brought on a ... snake ... on the plane!"
Other passengers wondered how the man had managed to evade airport security to bring the snake onto the plane.
An easyJet spokeswoman said the scenes were not as dramatic as those that faced actor Samuel L Jackson in the 2006 Hollywood film Snakes on a Plane.
She said : "The snake was kept in a small takeaway box throughout the flight.
"The non-poisonous snake remained in its container at all times and passengers were not in any danger.
"We have raised the issue with the airport to understand why the animal was not detected during security.
"The safety of passengers is always our highest priority."
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THE TELEGRAPH (UK) 06 November 13 It was a misunderstanding, says snake on a plane owner (Miranda Prynne)
A man who caused panic on an easyJet flight by releasing a pet snake from his hand luggage dismissed the drama as a “misunderstanding”.
Passengers were horrified when Adam Gubbay’s two-and-a-half foot corn snake emerged from its container on the flight from Tel Aviv to Luton Airport.
He boarded the plane with pet reptile, Milky, after walking unchallenged through airport security in Israel but was met by police and UK Border Agency officials at Luton after the aeroplane crew alerted authorities before landing.
He was given warning then allowed to leave the airport with the non-poisonous snake.
Mr Gubbay said: “The whole thing was a misunderstanding. “I’m an animal lover and it was all very stressful.”
The 24-year-old had been stopped and forced to pay an extra £25 to the budget airline to take two pieces of hand luggage onto the plane.
But staff did not become aware of the snake he was carrying until he took it out of the takeaway box where it was stored midflight.
Mr Gubbay, from Stoke Newington, North East London, said: “They gave me a lot of hassle when boarding – but about paying £25 because I had an extra piece of luggage.
“They just wanted extra money.”
He claimed getting through airport security with the reptile was easy.
He said: “The snake wasn’t a problem.
“I had Milky in a cardboard box with air holes which I put in a bag.
“It even beeped when it went through security. They scanned it then let me go through.”
The trainee bus driver bought the £50 snake from a pet shop while in Israel for a cousin’s wedding.
Six-month-old Milky was found when Adam gave him some water on the five-hour flight.
He said: “A woman in our row just started screaming: ‘Snake on a plane’.
“Some people were concerned but others were cool.”
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