In South Africa, a light aircraft pilot spotted a poisonous cobra on the cockpit floor during a flight and made an emergency landing.
The pilot and four passengers on board were fortunately safe, but the missing cobra has reportedly not been found until now.
According to foreign media reports such as local online media IOL, BBC, and Associated Press on the 4th (local time), light aircraft pilot Rudolf Erasmus took off from Cape Town, South Africa, on the 5rd and was heading to Mvolvela, Mpumalaga, in the northeastern province of Mpumalaga.
While flying at an altitude of 3,9 feet (2.7 km) at the time, Erasmus suddenly felt something cold slide down his waist.
Curiously looking around, he spotted a sizable Cape Cobra head disappear from under the cockpit.
Enlarge the image
▲ Cape Cobra
The cave cobra is highly venomous and is one of the most dangerous cobra species in Africa. If left unchecked, bites can lead to paralysis, respiratory failure, and even death.
Erasmus was stunned, but decided to guide the Cobra to the corner of the cockpit and make an emergency landing so that the Cobra would not move toward the passengers.
First, he told passengers: "There is a snake on board at the moment. It's under my seat, so I'm going to get down to the ground as fast as I can," he informed of the situation, and called nearby air traffic control to get permission to make an emergency landing.
The plane flew for about 10 minutes before landing safely and getting off the plane with four passengers.
Firefighters and snake trainer Johan de Klerk, who had been waiting on the runway after landing, searched for the plane, searched for two more days, but the cobra never showed up.
Erasmus said, "I hope the Cobra has found its way," but added, "It's just my aircraft."
Enlarge the image
When this became known, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) praised Erasmus' courage in calmly landing an emergency landing after spotting a venomous cobra on board.
He then gave credit to the passengers, saying, "Thank you to the passengers for staying calm in such a situation," according to the BBC.
(Photo= AP/Yonhap News)