Snakes on a plane. I'm Rebecca Leib. I'm Jason Horton.

And this is Ghost Town. After the FAA, F. Ayea,

after aeck.

After the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the FAA grounded all non-military

flights in US airspace except for one.

Lawrence Van Sertima, a 40-year veteran snake handler, experienced his first snake bite while handling a

Tai Pan, one of the most venomous snakes in the world. It became agitated and bit his thumb. Immediately he knew he was in serious danger.

The nearly fatal bite also took place just hours after the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 which prompted authorities

to order all but military planes out of the nation skies.

Wow I had never heard of this before this is fascinating.

With air traffic grounded, helicopter transport was impossible and took 40 minutes for an ambulance to get him to Miami's Baptist hospital.

The venom of the Tai Pan attacks the blood, muscles, kidneys, and heart, making it one of the

deadliest scenarios imaginable.

Van Sertima's condition rapidly deteriorated, and within hours he was critical, bleeding from his eyes and mouth.

Oh my God.

This is from the Tampa Bay Times.

Of 455 medically significant snakes in the world.

This one is at the top of the list, said Miami paramedic Captain Al Cruz.

Only the most qualified snake handlers are permitted to handle them.

It's like playing Russian roulette with five out of six bullets in the chamber.

Oh my God.

I mean, tell me how you really feel about the snake.

...