A different kind of guest: snake sneaks into engine of van parked at KLIA 2

Airport staff swiftly catch metre-long python after alerted by public

The metre-long reticulated python discovered in the engine compartment of a van parked at klia2 today. – Malaysia Airports Facebook pic, January 14, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – A metre-long reticulated python made itself comfortable in the engine compartment of a van parked at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 earlier this week. 

In a statement to Scoop, Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) said its operations centre was alerted of the snake’s presence by members of the public on Thursday, following which airport fire and rescue services personnel were dispatched to the scene. 

“The snake, weighing 1.1kg and measuring about 1m in length, has since been handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department.” 

MAHB added that the van belonged to a member of the public and was parked at the kerbside of the departure hall on Level 3 of the terminal. 

Airport personnel working to catch the snake. The reptile has since been handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department. – Malaysia Airports Facebook pic, January 14, 2024

In a Facebook post today, MAHB commended the public for raising the alarm as well as its airport team who caught the snake in 10 minutes.

“We had a different kind of guest this time! Our airport fire and rescue services personnel received a report from the airport operations control centre on the finding of the reticulated python.

“Maybe it (the snake) wanted to go to Hatyai, the food there is supposedly cheap,” MAHB quipped in the post. – January 14, 2024