US Naval jets were forced to swap runways when a stubborn crocodile refused to move.
The seven foot man-eater was spotted by concerned pilots on the tarmac at the Naval Air Station Key West in Florida.
Before local experts could be brought in, the beast lazed in the sunshine, seemingly oblivious to the fighter jets landing and taking off nearby.
The station shared on Facebook : “Sunning Croc and Super Hornet.
“This airfield resident was soaking up some sun on one of our runways recently and didn’t want to budge.
“Wildlife Biologist Rosa Gonzales had to call in reinforcements from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation to move the stubborn American crocodile outside the fence line.”
The Miami Herald reported sightings of crocodiles in the area are not new, with several reports of the reptiles.
Fish and Wildlife spokesman Jason Rafter told the publication: “We believe she is a local crocodile.
“'She has been tagged about four years before in that area. She's got a new tag on her now. “That way we can identify her from a distance.”
Military bosses revealed the crocodile, a female, was caught by the state’s trooper and safely released elsewhere on the base, which is used as a training facility for combat fighters.
One person joked on Facebook: “He's waiting for that pilot to deplane so he can have a snack.”
Another said: “She apparently bought all that nonsense about joining the Navy and seeing the world and now wants to enlist.”
One more joked: “So you're saying the airfield had a reptile dysfunction?
“Sorry, everyone. I'll see myself out now.”
Last month several people were sickened by the sight of an enormous alligator appearing to carry away its love rival away to eat as it trudged across a Florida golf course.
Dubbed Grandpappy, the 20ft monster was seen carrying a smaller 6ft alligator between its jaws as it climbed up a bank on the green.
The clip - initially recorded and uploaded by a local named Julie Marchillo Smith - was first shared by the Everglades Holiday Park, The Sun reports.
Experts warned male alligators can turn cannibal as mating season approaches.
They can become particularly aggressive and kill and eat their smaller rivals.
The animal's breeding season usually begins in April - with mating season coming around May and June.
An expert from the Florida Museum of Natural History said Grandpappy's behaviour was "totally normal", adding that it's "well-known" for larger predatory alligators to turn on their smaller foes.
Coleman M Sheehy III told Newsweek : “Males get very territorial during mating season and this can lead to more aggression than normal towards other male alligators.”
Facebook users thought Grandpappy was simply providing a means of transport for the smaller creature.
However, one said: "Sad that the big ones eat so many of the young.
"They really don’t have a chance unless they find another pond and there just aren’t enough places.”
