Emirates flight to Dubai cancelled because of snake in cargo hold

The scheduled flight on January 8 was due to depart Muscat in Oman for Dubai before the reptile was discovered, said the carrier.

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DUBAI // An Emirates flight had to be cancelled after a snake was found in a cargo hold.

The scheduled flight on January 8 was due to depart Muscat in Oman for Dubai before the reptile was discovered, said the airline.

“Flight EK0863 from Muscat to Dubai on 8 January 2017 was cancelled due to a detection of a snake in the cargo hold prior to passengers boarding,” a spokeswoman said.

“Engineering and cleaning teams are working to clear the aircraft to re-enter service. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

The species of snake is not known.

First-class passengers on a recent Aeromexico flight in Mexico were confronted by a slithery stowaway.

A university rector from Torreon posted a video on Twitter of a snake making its way out of an overhead luggage locker and dropping into the cabin.

The escaped reptile was enough for air traffic authorities to give the jet – a domestic flight from Torreon to Mexico City – a priority landing.

nhanif@thenational.ae

* with AFP