Pilot keeps calm during run-in with cockpit snake
The snake that was seen by a Lowveld pilot, mid-flight between Worcester and Mbombela, has still not been found.
A Lowveld pilot, Rudolf Erasmus, was forced to execute an emergency landing after he had discovered an unwanted passenger mid-flight aboard his Beechcraft Baron 58 on Monday April 3.
Speaking to Lowvelder about the ordeal, Erasmus said he had been 11 000ft in the air with four passengers when he felt something cold against his hip, only to discover what a supposed Cape cobra, one of South Africa’s most venomous snakes.
Speaking about the moments leading up to the snake discovery, he said they had flown from Worcester and were en route to the Wonderboom National Airport, with the final destination being the old Nelspruit Airfield.
“We were cruising at 11 000ft in the air when I felt something cold against my hip.”
Erasmus said he had initially thought it was his water bottle leaking, until he looked down and saw the head of a snake, what he took to be a Cape cobra.
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“It was receding under my chair. I kept quiet for minute or two, because I didn’t want the passengers to panic. I informed them a snake was under my seat in the cockpit and I needed to land the plane as soon as possible. Luckily everyone remained calm.”
Erasmus said he contacted the relevant authorities, who cleared him to land at the nearest airport in Welkom.
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He said the reptile was very placid while in the air, and that it took him between 10 and 15 minutes to execute the landing. After doing so, all the passengers disembarked first. Erasmus was the last to exit the aircraft.
“I stood on the wing of the plane and moved the seat forward to try and spot the snake. It was curled up under my seat. It was quite a big fellow.”
The official commentator for the Lowveld Airshow, Welkom local Brian Emmenis, who has been a member of the South African aviation world for the past 40 years and has won multiple awards in aviation safety, was at the Welkom Airport shortly after Erasmus had landed on Monday.
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“I must compliment Rudolf Erasmus for the way he handled the situation,” said Emmenis.
He said Erasmus had to concentrate on flying the aircraft in very bad weather while knowing the snake was on board, and managed to land the plane and get the passengers out safely.
Emmenis said upon his arrival, he had called the local fire brigade’s chief to send in the snake catcher who worked late into Tuesday evening to try and find it.
They could not, however. It is thought the snake had moved to another location in the plane while the snake catcher was on his way to the airport. As of Wednesday morning, when Erasmus finally landed at the old Nelspruit Airfield, the search for the reptile by snake catchers and engineers had been unsuccessful.
The snake had still not been found by Thursday April 6. Erasmus said it was unlikely that it was still on board, but that snake catchers from Lowveld Venom Suppliers left traps outside and around the aircraft as well as inside.
Chris Hobkirk of Lowveld Venom Suppliers said it was important to note it had not been verified whether the snake is a Cape cobra or not.
He said if it is in fact one, it has one of the most potent neurotoxin venoms, more potent than a black mamba’s.
He said while it is an extremely intimidating snake, it is not aggressive, and is likely to bite only if it feels threatened.
