Two live snakes, including a suspected rattlesnake, were found in a checked bag at a California airport, forcing a brief screening pause and a careful response by officers.
Story Highlights
- TSA officers discovered two live snakes in a checked bag at Ontario International Airport.
- Supervisors halted screening nearby until officers confirmed the threat level.
- No one was hurt; the snakes were removed and the bag later cleared for travel.
- The passenger said the snakes were pets; a relative took custody, and the traveler flew without them.
Screeners Detect Live Snakes During Routine Luggage Check
Transportation Security Administration officers screening checked baggage at Ontario International Airport in Southern California found two live snakes hidden in a pillowcase, according to a published report. Transportation Security Administration Officer Benjamin Andrade-Carillo first saw what looked like rope, then called Supervisory Officer Suggey Flores. Transportation Security Administration Manager Francisco “Frank” Calderon confirmed the animals were live snakes, with one described as a rattlesnake. The discovery came during normal screening, not a special search, and was escalated as a safety issue.
Supervisors paused screening in the immediate area while they assessed the risk. Officers did not know if the snakes were venomous and treated the bag as a potential hazard until they could confirm details. Airport police and the airline were notified, following standard procedures for unusual or dangerous items. Officials removed the snakes from the bag and kept the scene controlled. The response stayed limited to the checkpoint area and did not disrupt the rest of the airport’s operations.
Incident Resolved Without Injuries or Broader Disruptions
Officers reported no bites, no injuries, and no airport-wide delays after the snakes were removed. The bag was rescreened and cleared to fly. The passenger told officials the snakes were pets and had flown with another airline before. A family member who was not traveling arrived to take the animals. The passenger then flew without the snakes, and there was no report of further enforcement at the checkpoint linked to the incident, according to the account cited.
Supervisory Officer Suggey Flores said safety was the top concern because officers did not know the species on first look. She said the snakes could have been venomous. Officer Andrade-Carillo said that in two years on the job, he had never seen anything like it. Their comments show how rare this kind of find is, even for trained screeners who review thousands of bags. The careful pause and quick coordination helped keep people safe while staff verified the threat.
What Travelers Need To Know About Animals and Air Travel
Federal travel guidance makes clear that airlines are never required to accept snakes or reptiles as service animals. Even when airlines do accept certain animals, carriers set strict rules on what can fly and how it must be contained. Travelers should check their airline’s policies before arriving at the airport and declare any animals to both the airline and the Transportation Security Administration. Proper carriers and documents prevent scenes like this and keep fellow passengers safe.
TSA officers at Ontario International Airport in Southern California discovered two live snakes, including a rattlesnake, concealed inside a pillowcase in a passenger’s checked luggage.
According to the agency, an officer initially mistook the snakes for rope before realizing… pic.twitter.com/qQ1j2zvYvx
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 13, 2026
Past cases show this is rare but not unique. In Tampa in 2023, officers found a four-foot boa constrictor in a carry-on, and the airline refused to accept it on the flight. The Transportation Security Administration advises passengers to tell officers they are traveling with an animal and to follow airline rules for secured containers. These steps reduce risk at the checkpoint and on the aircraft, where loose reptiles pose obvious safety concerns.
Sources:
nypost.com, stcblink.nypost.com
