Suspected Stowaway Found Dead in Plane’s Landing Gear at Charlotte Airport

Maintenance workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport discovered a body in the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines jet that had arrived from Europe. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are investigating and have not released the person’s identity, origin of the flight, or cause of death. Aviation experts note that most wheel-well stowaways succumb to extreme cold and low oxygen at cruising altitude. The case follows several similar incidents: two bodies were found in a JetBlue aircraft’s wheel well in Fort Lauderdale in January, and another was discovered in a United flight’s wheel well after landing in Maui in December. The airport expressed condolences and pledged support for the investigation; American Airlines referred inquiries to law enforcement. The tragedy underscores ongoing security, humanitarian, and migration challenges tied to dangerous stowaway attempts on commercial flights.

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Source: AP News