Snake on a plane grounds Emirates flight

Aircraft returns to service following temporary delay due to serpent found in cargo hold by baggage handlers

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Emirates flight from Muscat to Dubai was canceled after baggage handlers discovered a snake in the aircraft’s cargo hold.

The animal was found before Sunday’s flight from Oman, the airline said in a statement, adding that the aircraft was returned to service after being thoroughly searched.

First class passengers on an Aeromexico flight in November were confronted by a snake that fell from an overhead storage compartment. Nobody was hurt in the incident but a few passengers were rattled.

Both incidents are reminiscent of the 2006 movie “Snakes on a Plane” starring Samuel L. Jackson, in which Jackson has to battle hundreds of deadly snakes that are unleashed on a passenger plane.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.