Passengers aboard an Air Asia flight from Bangkok to Phuket experienced an unexpected and harrowing journey when chaos ensued after the discovery of a live snake in an overhead bin. The incident, which occurred on January 13, has raised concerns among travelers as it marks the second time in recent years that a snake has been found on an AirAsia plane.
A video of the incident, shared on social media, depicts the snake slithering over the cabin lights above the overhead compartment while a flight attendant attempts to capture it using a water bottle. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.
In response to the incident, Air Asia Thailand released a statement acknowledging the occurrence on flight FD3015. The aircraft, which departed from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, was promptly inspected by the airline’s engineering and safety teams upon landing in Phuket. However, the statement did not provide details regarding the fate of the snake after the inspection.
Phol Poompuang, the head of corporate safety for Air Asia, described the incident as a “very rare occurrence.” He reassured the public that flight attendants are well trained to handle such situations. According to Poompuang, passengers alerted the flight attendants before landing in Phuket after spotting the snake in the overhead luggage compartment. As a precautionary measure, the airline’s crew relocated passengers from the affected area.
This marks the second incident involving a snake on an AirAsia plane. In February 2022, a spotted python was discovered on domestic flights in Malaysia, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah. Following the find, the affected plane was rerouted to Kuching International Airport.
The recurrence of snake-related incidents on Air Asia flights raises questions about the airline’s safety protocols and procedures for ensuring the integrity of its cabins. Passengers may now be more vigilant about their surroundings during flights, with some expressing concerns about the potential risks associated with wildlife entering the aircraft.
Air Asia has not provided details on any additional measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the airline addresses this unusual challenge, passengers and the public alike will be watching closely for assurances of safety and improved protocols to avoid encounters with unexpected wildlife during their travels.
Sources By Agencies
