Staff had to be on their guard at Gold Coast Airport in Australia this morning when a snake came within inches of getting onto a plane . As passengers began to settle into their seats aboard the Virgin flight to Sydney , a green snake slithered its way up the stairs to the entry door . Eagle-eyed passenger Stuart Robert , who rather fittingly works as the Assistant Minister for Defence , was on hand to capture the action unfold . The snake was halted just inches from entering the main body of the plane by airport staff . The snake 's actions were caught on camera by Australia 's Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert ( file photo ) 'The green snake had slithered up the front stairs so the passengers had to board from the back , ' he told MailOnline Travel . 'It was probably enjoying the warmth of the tarmac and steel and may have made its way up there as people were boarding . ' I took the photo just as the staff had got the little guy into a bag , so it was n't quite 'Snakes on a Plane ' and we did n't have an extra passenger to Sydney . ' MP Robert was full of praise for the way the drama was handled by staff at Gold Coast Airport . Delays were minimal at Gold Coast Airport today after a snake was halted entering a plane on the tarmac . 'The airport staff acted quickly and brought a bag with a rod to gather up the little guy and probably take him back to where he came from . 'They responded well and the delay was minor . ' It is not known as to what kind of snake it was . Staff were expected to return the reptile back to its natural habitat .
Snake believed to have slithered its way between passengers . Virgin flight was bound for Sydney out of Gold Coast Airport . Drama captured by Australian Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert .