A deceased stowaway was discovered in the landing gear compartment of an aircraft operated by American Airlines upon its arrival at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 9 am on Sunday morning, as maintenance personnel were conducting routine checks on the plane that had recently completed a flight from Europe. The individual was found in the landing gear area and was pronounced dead by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers at the scene.
An American Airlines spokesperson stated that the airline is cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation of the incident. Those with information are urged to contact the detectives directly at 01-704-432-TIPS or provide anonymous tips to Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 01-704-334-1600.
In a separate incident earlier this year, the bodies of two teenagers were discovered in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at a South Florida airport. The flight had originated from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and landed in Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, in December of last year, a body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that had flown from Chicago to Maui.
The tragic deaths of teenagers Jeik Aniluz Lusi, 18, and Elvis Borques Castillo, 16, were confirmed as the stowaways found deceased in the landing gear compartment of the JetBlue plane. The boys were identified using DNA during a post-flight inspection at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. They had boarded the flight from New York’s JFK Airport via the Dominican Republic.
JetBlue characterized the incident as a “heartbreaking situation,” highlighting the risks stowaways take to enter different countries. Aviation experts have noted that the survival rate for stowaways is low, with approximately one in four individuals estimated to survive such journeys according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.
One survivor, Themba Cabeka, endured an 11-hour flight from Johannesburg to London by hiding in the undercarriage of a British Airways plane. He recounted his experience of clinging to the aircraft’s structure to prevent falling out during the flight, sustaining burn marks in the process. His companion, Vale, tragically fell to his death during the journey. Justin, as Themba is now known, shared his harrowing story in a documentary aired on Channel 4.
Despite the challenges and risks involved, stowaways continue to attempt these perilous journeys in pursuit of reaching their desired destinations.