Forgetful fliers often leave loose change, keys and the occasion wallet behind in the TSA screening bins as they rush through to catch a flight.
Add to that list a live snake.
A snake was found slithering on the floor by a screening checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport.
It was first spotted by a boy and then captured in one of the gray checkpoint bins by a TSA agent.
The checkpoint was then closed down while Port Authority Police were called to assist.
"Typically people leave items such as their keys, sunglasses, ID, hats and gloves, but this is the first time someone has left a snake behind. We have a fairly robust lost and found program that reunites passengers with their lost items, but this passenger doesn’t need to call us about his snake," said Tom Carter, TSA New Jersey federal security director.
The snake’s owner hasn’t come forward.
It is unknown if the owner had attempted to take the snake through as an emotional support pet and abandoned it at the last minute, or if someone was simply trying to smuggle the snake aboard a plane and decided it was too risky.
The TSA is still mystified as to how it ended up at the screening checkpoint.
It was described as a harmless foot-long ring-necked snake.
