A tragic discovery was made on Sunday, September 28, when a stowaway was found dead inside the landing gear of an American Airlines flight that had just arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Europe.
The Discovery
- The body was discovered around 9 a.m. during post-flight maintenance.
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers confirmed the individual was deceased at the scene.
A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) said in a statement to USA Today:
“CLT Airport is aware of the tragic discovery involving a deceased individual found in the landing gear of an American Airlines aircraft this morning. We are deeply saddened by this news and will support the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s investigation as needed.”
Despite the incident, airport operations continued as normal on September 28.
The Investigation
- CMPD’s Homicide Unit Detectives and Crime Scene Search teams collected evidence.
- Operations Command and MEDIC were also called to assist at the scene.
- The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities working to identify the victim and determine how they accessed the aircraft.
Why Stowaway Flights Are So Deadly
Aviation analyst John Nance explained to ABC News the extreme risks:
“A human body exposed for many hours to temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit courts extensive frostbite and loss of limbs, even if the utter lack of oxygen at 35,000 feet or more doesn’t result in brain death.”
- While there have been rare survival cases, Nance emphasized that death is the overwhelming outcome for stowaways.
- The danger not only affects the stowaway but can also pose risks for the crew and passengers.
Similar Incidents
This tragedy follows several recent cases involving stowaways in aircraft landing gear:
- February 2024: Two Dominican teenagers were found dead inside the landing gear of a JetBlue flight at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Their bodies were discovered during routine maintenance after arriving from New York.
- Other past incidents across the world highlight just how rare survival is, despite occasional stories of stowaways beating the odds.
