A dead body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines jet after its arrival in Maui, Hawaii, on Tuesday.
The body was found in a compartment housing the aircraft’s landing gear after United Flight 202 landed at Kahului Airport from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, according to the airline.
United Airlines confirmed the wheel well could only be accessed from outside the aircraft but stated it was unclear how or when the individual entered the compartment. No further details about the deceased have been provided.
United said it is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration has not yet commented on the matter.
Stowaways in wheel wells face severe risks due to unpressurised conditions, extreme cold ranging between -50°C and -60°C (-58°F to -76°F), and a lack of oxygen at high altitudes. While the fatality rate for such cases is high, some individuals have survived.
In recent years, survivors have been found in similar incidents, including a stowaway discovered alive in the undercarriage of an Algerian aircraft in Paris in 2022 and another found alive in a Cargolux freight plane’s wheel section upon its arrival in Amsterdam.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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