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 Until the snake is found, the aircraft will be grounded 

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An Australian pilot was given the fright of his life when a snake slithered from the dashboard of the plane he was flying, forcing him to make an emergency landing, airline officials said Thursday.

Braden Blennerhassett was on a freight run for Air Frontier from Darwin to the remote town of Peppimenarti in the Northern Territory on Tuesday when the reptile appeared in the cockpit.

He made a mayday call and landed safely back in Darwin.

“My blood pressure and heart rate was a bit elevated — it was an interesting experience,” Blennerhassett told Nine News.

“As the plane was landing the snake was crawling down my leg, which was frightening.” 

Air Frontier director Geoffrey Hunt said Blennerhassett handled the situation well, given Australia is home to some of the most venomous snakes in the world.

“He said, we’ve got a snake on board,” Hunt told reporters, adding that the pilot had trouble communicating with the control tower.

“The snake popped its head out near the transmit button that he needed to press to talk to the tower.” 

Blennerhassett managed to get his small plane back to base where a snake handler was organised to meet him.

“We have got another chap here who is an aircraft engineer and a snake handler and he had a look and he couldn’t find it,” Hunt said, adding that they now planned to use a live mouse in a cage as bait.

Until the snake is found, the aircraft will be grounded.

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Sat May 18 17:05:35 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 5, 2012

M'pesu

hahahahahahahaha... this one was day dreaming.
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Apr 5, 2012

lidodaduvha11

imagine
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Apr 5, 2012

tlebebe

hope you were not imagining things, lefsega tena!!!
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Apr 5, 2012

Nwanawamukalaha

Request sir Samuel L Jacson for help..............
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Apr 5, 2012

svavava

sh*t, that plane wld have crashed it it were me, i cant stand snakes
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Apr 5, 2012

TKay

Shame..."snakes in a plane" - so what will happen if they dont find the snake...cause they can be very good at hiding, will they say he was day dreaming?
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Apr 5, 2012

TrapStar

Well they dont think like educated people, The engine was running so the snake came out cos of heat.
If its just standing then the snake is also relaxing.
What i can say is good luck to them with their idiot|c idea
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Apr 5, 2012

SebolaNtimetseAdikateMoketla

Braden Blennerhassett was on a freight run for Air Frontier from Darwin to the remote town of Peppimenarti
...........
............

And the name of the snake

Is Peppermint-e-Monati

Pepperipeppepepipe!
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Apr 5, 2012

SebolaNtimetseAdikateMoketla

The snake was looking for a peppermint

Next time keep some peppermints for your cabin visitors!
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