(NBC/WTVJ) - A unique passenger made quite the splash at Miami international airport on Saturday morning.
"Charid" the sea turtle was found on a beach in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, covered in fibropapilloma tumors and flown to South Florida this weekend for treatment.
The 28-pound juvenile green sea turtle was later taken to the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital in Marathon.
Fibropapilloma is a herpes-like virus in which tumors spread across the body. Doctors say it is provoked by warm water and water pollution.
They hope to surgically remove the tumors from "Charid's" face and nurse the turtle back to health.
"The disease is horrific. It shows itself in tumors on the soft tissue. It's really hard to look at, honestly, but environment has a big play in this disease. Warmer water temperatures, water pollution, t causes this virus," said Bette Zirkelbach, the manager of the Florida Keys Turtle Hospital. "Either way, this turtle is going to be in better hands, and we're still hoping for best case that it's tumor-free on the inside, and then we'll start treating those tumors on the outside."
Officials with the turtle hospital hope to release "Charid" back into the wild soon.
Courtesy NBC News Channel