An AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau, Sabah on Thursday (Feb 10) was diverted after a snake was seen in one of its overhead compartments.

AirAsia said that as soon as the flight’s captain was aware of the incident, he made the decision to divert the aircraft to Kuching, Sarawak.

This was done as a precautionary measure to fumigate the aircraft, said the airline when asked by CNA about whether there was a flight diversion due to a snake being sighted on the plane. 

Video clips of the shadow of a snake inside one of the plane’s overhead compartments had been circulating on social media.  

“This is a very rare incident which can occur on any aircraft from time to time,”  said AirAsia’s chief safety officer Capt Liong Tien Ling in an emailed statement to CNA on Friday. 

“The Captain took the appropriate action,” said Capt Liong, adding that the safety and wellbeing of their guests and crew was always their top priority.

“At no time was the safety of guests or crew at any risk,” he said.