Indonesian flag carrier Garuda has denied there were snakes loose onboard a domestic flight after several reptiles broke free from the cargo hold.
The critters were actually Lialis Burtonis lizards which are commonly known as legless lizards, an airline official said.
The species is also known as the ‘snake lizard’ as it only has very small almost indistinguishable hind legs, and is only found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
"The animal physically looks like a snake, but after an examination and checking of the documents, they are lizards and not snakes," Garuda’s vice president of corporate communications, Benny S. Butarbutar told the Jakarta Post.
After being spotted in the cabin, the three errant reptiles were quickly rounded up by flight crew and secured.
No disruption to the flight was caused, Benny said, but the airline is investigating how they escaped from their container.
"Whoever is proven to be negligent over the standard operating procedures in the packaging will face firm sanctions," Benny said.
The drama took place on a flight from Merauke, Papua to Jakarta on Tuesday.
