A solo physician flying a one-seat plane across Mississippi had the shock of his flying career when he discovered a gray rattle snake aboard.

Dr. Ed Carruth noticed the reptile as it began "licking" his arm.

"I almost hurt myself when I saw it," the frazzled doctor told The Daily Leader of Brookhaven.

Carruth who did some "aerobatics" to force the snake to the back of the plane said, "And once he got oriented, he went to the back of the plane."

The panicked doctor completed his flight and arrived unhurt at the Brookhaven Municipal Airport from Meridian.

A snake expert, who was called to remove the animal from the plane, said it was common for these animals including mice to live in airplane hangars.

Releasing the snake into the wild, the expert added, ....the hangar is cool on the inside, and that's why he was in there in the first place."