Additional Coverage:
Stowaway Found Deceased in Landing Gear of Flight Arriving in Charlotte
Charlotte, NC – A somber discovery was made Sunday morning when a stowaway was found deceased in the landing gear of an American Airlines flight that had arrived at Charlotte Douglas International Airport from Europe.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), maintenance crews performing routine inspections on the aircraft around 9 a.m. Sunday located the individual. Airport division officers were called to the scene and subsequently declared the stowaway dead.
American Airlines issued a statement confirming their cooperation with authorities, noting, “We are working with law enforcement on its investigation.” Charlotte Airport authorities also acknowledged the incident, expressing deep sadness and pledging support for the CMPD’s investigation. They confirmed that airport operations have continued as normal.
Aviation analyst John Nance emphasized the severe dangers associated with stowing away on commercial aircraft, explaining that such attempts are almost always fatal due to the extreme conditions. “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,” Nance stated. He added that while extremely rare instances of survival have been recorded, the inherent risks to the individual, as well as potential dangers to passengers and crew, are overwhelmingly high.