An Australian Disney star recently attracted attention for an unprecedented mid-flight incident involving a snake. According to The Independent, Andre Rerekura, known for his Disney roles, removed a snake discovered on a Virgin Airlines flight from Broome to Perth on November 21.
Before takeoff, a passenger alerted the crew to the presence of a snake, and initial panic erupted. “They pretty much shut the whole plane down and everyone was going to get disembarked. it was a little bit of a weird story,” Rerekura said to ABC News.
The situation escalates when a passenger screams after spotting a snake, and it finally slithers near Rerekura’s foot. Cool-headed, he recognized it as a nonvenomous Stimson’s python. “I knew it was safe, [and] I knew it was just scared and super shy,” he said, detailing how he safely removed the reptile from the plane.
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His prompt action did not go amiss with the passengers who praised him, showering him with a free soda courtesy of the crew. “I guess everyone was relieved that they didn’t have to get off the plane,” Rerekura added.
The delay due to this incidence was as short as 20 minutes, and then the flight reached Perth peacefully. Broome International Airport chief executive Craig Shaw has said that how the snake has entered into the aircraft remains a mystery, which can be further probed by the airline.
Stimson’s pythons are native to northern Australia and non-venomous snakes, active during warmer months. That is why this incident comes across as odd but harmless.