Australian pilot performs emergency landing after finding snake in cockpit

A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Australia's Northern Territory after finding a snake in the cockpit.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the snake slithered out of the Air Frontier plane's dashboard about 20 minutes after the flight left Darwin Airport.

The airline's director Geoffrey Hunt told the news service that its a first for the company,and added: "I have heard of crocodiles being loose in planes but not snakes."

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Following the discovery Pilot Braden Blennerhassett, 26, alerted air traffic control and diverted the small plane back to Darwin.

He spoke to Nine News after his ordeal, saying: "As the plane was landing the snake was crawling down my leg, which was frightening."

"My blood pressure and heart rate was a bit elevated — it was an interesting experience," he added.

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NT News says that a firefighter from the airport went to inspect the plane afterwards and spotted the snake . . .as well as a green tree frog.

However, both had disappeared by the time a ranger arrived to capture them.