Lampedusa snake found in overhead bin on flight to Palermo

A small snake was discovered in the overhead compartment of a commercial flight traveling from Lampedusa to Palermo. Passengers noticed the reptile during the final stages of the flight, prompting the pilot to alert authorities at Falcone e Borsellino Airport.

Upon landing, Carabinieri and CITES forest police boarded the aircraft to secure the animal. The snake was identified as a hooded racer (Macroprotodon cucullatus), a species characteristic of Lampedusa and the only known population in Europe. While the species is venomous, its toxin is considered nearly harmless to humans.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the snake was transported and to identify those responsible. The reptile has been handed over to a herpetologist at the University of Palermo for health assessment, after which it will be returned to its natural habitat in Lampedusa.