DUBAI // An Emirates flight had to be cancelled after a snake was found in a cargo hold. The scheduled flight on January 8 was due to depart Muscat in Oman for Dubai before the reptile was discovered, said the airline. “Flight EK0863 from Muscat to Dubai on 8 January 2017 was cancelled due to a detection of a snake in the cargo hold prior to passengers boarding,” a spokeswoman said. “Engineering and cleaning teams are working to clear the aircraft to re-enter service. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.” The species of snake is not known. First-class passengers on a recent Aeromexico flight in Mexico were confronted by a slithery stowaway. A university rector from Torreon posted a video on Twitter of a snake making its way out of an overhead luggage locker and dropping into the cabin. The escaped reptile was enough for air traffic authorities to give the jet – a domestic flight from Torreon to Mexico City – a priority landing. nhanif@thenational.ae <em>* with AFP</em>