Huge snake reportedly hitches ride on Qantas flight

A 9-foot python hitched a ride on the wing of a Qantas plane bound for Papua New Guinea, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Passengers on board noticed the snake tucked into the wing of the plane. As the plane soared higher into windier and colder weather, the snake struggled against the elements.

"I felt quite sad for it, really," said one passenger. "For the remainder of the flight, he was trying to pull himself back into the plane, even though he was fighting against 400km/h winds. The cabin crew told us that at cruising altitude, it was minus 12 degrees outside -- but not even that was able to finish him."

University of Sydney snake expert Rick Shine reportedly identified the reptile as a scrub python, the longest snake in Australia.

"It appears as though the snake has initially crawled up inside the landing bay, maybe housed himself in there, and then crawled into the trailing ledge flap assembly," said Paul Cousins, president of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association.

It's unclear if the snake survived the harrowing journey, though one passenger noted, "Until we landed, I looked out the window and the thing was still moving." 

Click for more from the Sydney Morning Herald.