No Snakes On Plane: Loose Reptile Captured At Newark Airport

NEWARK, NJ — It’s the first time that anyone’s left a snake behind at Newark Liberty International Airport, authorities say.

On Monday, airport officials helped to prevent a case of “Snakes On A Plane” from taking place in Newark, nabbing a 15-inch ring-necked snake as is slithered around a checkpoint lane in Terminal C.

According to the TSA, a juvenile passenger standing nearby was the first one to spot the trespassing reptile as it slithered around the floor near the checkpoint. Taking the TSA’s motto of “If you see something, say something” to heart, the eagle-eyed youngster told a security officer what she witnessed.

Springing into action like Samuel Jackson in the 2006 action movie, “Snakes on a Plane,” the TSA officer used a checkpoint bin to trap the reptile. Security officers then temporarily shifted the waiting passengers to another lane until Port Authority police arrived and removed the snake.

The lane returned to normal service shortly afterwards, the TSA stated.

A TSA spokesperson said the agency screens a variety of pets that travelers bring to checkpoints, but it’s up to individual airlines as to whether they will allow those pets — snakes or otherwise — onto their aircraft.

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“It’s common for travelers to accidentally leave items at the checkpoint,” said TSA New Jersey Federal Security Director Tom Carter. “Typically people leave items such as their keys, sunglasses, ID, hats and gloves… but this is the first time someone has left a snake behind.”

Carter said the agency has a “fairly robust” lost and found program that reunites passengers with their lost items, but added that whoever left the snake behind shouldn’t bother to call them about picking the animal up.

Although they’re equipped with a weak venom, ring-necked snakes are considered harmless to humans.

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