Snakes alive! "Emotional support reptile" kicked off flight

Americans seem to suffer from a bizarre range of mental issues.

Like the one who recently tried to smuggle a snake on board a flight, claiming it was "an emotion support reptile".

The traveller was stopped after Transportation Security Administration officers encountered the snake hidden in hand luggage.

The 1.3 metre boa constrictor, was spotted on a security checkpoint X-ray (above) at Tampa International Airport, Travel Mole reported.

Its owner maintained it was her emotional support snake called Bartholomew.

“Our officers didn’t find this hysssssterical,” a TSA Instagram post said.

“TSA notified the airline, which ruled that there was not going to be a snake on their plane.” 

Both the woman and the snake were refused access to the plane.

In recent weeks a dog and a cat have both been found in carry-on bags at security screenings in the US.