A lifeless physique was discovered within the wheel properly of a United Airways jetliner after the plane landed within the Hawaiian island of Maui, the airline mentioned on Wednesday (Dec 25).
The physique was found within the one of many compartments that homes the airplane’s touchdown gear when United Flight 202 from Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport landed at Kahului Airport on Tuesday afternoon, in accordance with the airline’s web site. No additional particulars concerning the deceased individual had been offered.
“The wheel properly was solely accessible from outdoors of the plane. At the moment, it isn’t clear how or when the individual accessed the wheel properly,” it mentioned.
United mentioned it was working with authorities on the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Stowaways within the unpressurised wheel-houses and cargo holds of planes can face temperatures of between minus 50 levels and minus 60 levels Celsius, in addition to a scarcity of oxygen.
Whereas the fatality charge for many wheel-well stowaways is excessive, some individuals have survived the ordeal.
An individual was discovered alive within the undercarriage bay of an Algerian provider’s plane in Paris final 12 months. In January 2022, a stowaway was found alive within the wheel part below the entrance of a Cargolux freight airplane that arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from Africa.
