A flight out of Melbourne has been delayed by more than an hour after the discovery of a slippery passenger.

The reptile, believed to be a green tree snake, was found slithering inside the cargo hold of a Virgin Australia plane on Tuesday afternoon.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Panic as snake found on Virgin plane.

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The snake is thought to have hitched a ride in a suitcase from Queensland, where the plane had originally come from, and escaped.

Professional snake hunter Mark Pelley was called to safely capture the reptile.

It will be taken to a vet before it is decided what to do with it.

Flight VA337 to Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon was able to continue as normal, although delayed, once the snake was removed.