Snake sparks panic after slithering under seats at airport
- 6 years ago
This is the terrifying moment a snake sparked panic after it was seen slithering across the floor at an airport.
Hundreds of passengers were waiting in the departure lounge at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban, Philippines, on September 9 when the serpent appeared at 6:30pm.
The black rat snake was seen winding its way across the shiny tiled floor as passengers leapt from their seats screaming in fear.
Onlooker Leon Anover said he was catching a plane with his wife that evening when he noticed people panicking at the sight of the reptile.
The father-of-two said: ''I couldn't believe there was a snake in the airport. It's not what anybody would expect. A lot of people were frightened. It was quite exciting and but also funny.''
The Philippines rat snake, a non-venomous predator which feeds on rodents and birds, slithered through the airport lounge for around five minutes before it was caught.
Footage shows one member of airport security staff using a long pole to pin the snake down before another stuffs it into a plastic bag.
The snake was then released back into the wild in bushes near the airport.
A spokesman for the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport said today (Sat) that nobody was injured by the snake.
They added: ''The snake was also not harmed and it's now safe. We don't know how it got past security!
''There was a bit of commotion but it settled down and no planes were affected. There was no danger to any passengers.''
Hundreds of passengers were waiting in the departure lounge at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban, Philippines, on September 9 when the serpent appeared at 6:30pm.
The black rat snake was seen winding its way across the shiny tiled floor as passengers leapt from their seats screaming in fear.
Onlooker Leon Anover said he was catching a plane with his wife that evening when he noticed people panicking at the sight of the reptile.
The father-of-two said: ''I couldn't believe there was a snake in the airport. It's not what anybody would expect. A lot of people were frightened. It was quite exciting and but also funny.''
The Philippines rat snake, a non-venomous predator which feeds on rodents and birds, slithered through the airport lounge for around five minutes before it was caught.
Footage shows one member of airport security staff using a long pole to pin the snake down before another stuffs it into a plastic bag.
The snake was then released back into the wild in bushes near the airport.
A spokesman for the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport said today (Sat) that nobody was injured by the snake.
They added: ''The snake was also not harmed and it's now safe. We don't know how it got past security!
''There was a bit of commotion but it settled down and no planes were affected. There was no danger to any passengers.''