Australian flight to Tokyo grounded due to snake

SYDNEY, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- An Australian airline said a flight was grounded for the night when an 8-inch snake was discovered aboard the aircraft.

A Qantas spokeswoman said a member of the cabin crew found the snake slithering near the door of an QF21 Sunday in Sydney before 370 passengers were due to board for a flight to Tokyo, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday.

The spokeswoman said the airline put the passengers up in hotels for the night while the snake was examined and the plane was searched.

The flight took off Monday morning.

The type of snake had not been identified as of Monday morning, the spokeswoman said.