CAIRO: An official at Cairo airport says a foot-long baby crocodile wriggled out of a passenger s hand luggage and caused panic on a flight from the United Arab Emirates.
Terrified passengers screamed at the sight of the 30-centimeter (one-foot-long) reptile as it made its way under seats and down the aisle.
A crew member on the EgyptAir flight from Abu Dhabi rounded up the wayward reptile and calmed passengers. The airport security official says the animal was seized and given to the Cairo Zoo.
Transporting exotic animals in and out of the Egypt is illegal. All of the passengers were questioned about the crocodile, but none admitted bringing it on board.
The airport official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press
In August 2007 the authorities seized more than 250 baby crocodiles, snakes and chameleons which a Saudi man tried to smuggle out of Egypt. The menagerie also ended up at Giza Zoo. -Agencies
