An easyJet flight from Tel Aviv to Luton was met on the ground by police after news broke that there was a snake on board.
A snake was found hidden on a plane in a takeaway box during a flight to Luton last night.
Passengers were left stunned when police intercepted an easyJet flight from Israel after reports of a Hollywood-style discovery aboard the plane.
One, Rafi Addleston, tweeted: “No Samuel L, but an actual snake on a plane. Police about to meet @easyJetarriving from Tel Aviv to Luton.”
Another, Michael Harris, wrote: “Just landed at @LDNLutonAirport with @easyJet… Police about to board to arrest guy who bought on a… snake… on the plane!”
An easyJet spokeswoman said the scenes were not quite as dramatic as those which confronted Samuel L Jackson in the 2006 cult classic film Snakes on a Plane.
The serpent, thought to be a corn snake, was kept in a “small takeaway box” throughout the flight, she added.
The passengers were reassured by easyJet, who responded on Twitter: “It was a non-poisonous snake and remained in its container at all times; 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.”
Corn snakes, native to North America, can grow to almost two metres in length, but are not harmful to humans and are widely sold as pets. They constrict their prey, and are usually found in southern and central US states.
