South African pilot finds highly venomous cobra snake under seat

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A South African pilot noticed a deadly snake on his plane while up in the air and decided to make an emergency landing.

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Pilot Rudolf Erasmus who had four passengers on his aircraft Monday felt something slide against his lower back and realized it was a large Cape Cobra snake, according to The Associated Press.

“I felt this cool sensation, sort of, crawling up my shirt,” Erasmus told the BBC. “As I turned to the left and looked down I saw the cobra [...] receding its head backwards underneath the seat.”

Erasmus told his passengers about the snake and then informed air traffic control so he could make an emergency landing in Welkom, South Africa. Accoridng to the AP, Erasmus had to fly for about 10 to 15 minutes and then land the plane all while the snake was sitting by his feet.

Cape Cobra snakes are reportedly one of the most dangerous cobra species in Africa, according to the AP. It’s because of their potent venom.

Just one bite from the Cape Cobra is lethal, according to the BBC. That one bite can kill a person in about 30 minutes.

Welkom snake handler Johan de Klerk and other aviation engineers searched the plane for two days, but were unable to find the snake and believed that it snuck out without anyone noticing, the AP reported.

Erasmus’ company wanted the plane flown back to Mbombela in South Africa which was about an hour and a half flight. The passengers on the plane reportedly found another way to get home, according to the AP. Erasmus flew the plane back without spotting the snake but he did take several precautions including a thicker jacket, a blanket wrapped around his seat, a can of insect repellent, and more.

“I hope it finds somewhere to go,” Erasmus said, per the AP. “Just not my aircraft.”