A lifeless physique was discovered within the wheel nicely of a United Airways jetliner after the plane landed within the Hawaiian island of Maui, the airline stated 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 particular person had been supplied.
“The wheel nicely was solely accessible from exterior of the plane. At the moment, it’s not clear how or when the particular person accessed the wheel nicely,” it stated.
United stated 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 price 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 service’s plane in Paris final 12 months. In January 2022, a stowaway was found alive within the wheel part beneath the entrance of a Cargolux freight airplane that arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from Africa.