Body found in plane's wheel well prompts police probe

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Global Industry News

Body found in plane's wheel well prompts police probe

Policy

Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Dec 26, 2024

A body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 at Maui's Kahului Airport on Christmas Eve. The aircraft had arrived from Chicago, and the discovery was made after it landed safely. Hawaii News Now reported that the incident is under investigation by law enforcement authorities.

United Airlines confirmed, "Upon arrival at Kahului airport in Maui on Tuesday, a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft. United is working with law enforcement authorities on the investigation." The airline also noted that access to the wheel well is only possible from outside the aircraft, but details about how or when entry occurred remain unknown.

The Maui Police Department has launched an active investigation into this case. They stated, "The Maui Police Department is currently conducting an active investigation regarding a deceased individual discovered on an incoming flight from the mainland this afternoon. At this time, no further details are available."

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Flight UA202 departed Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport at 09:31 local time and arrived in Maui at 14:12 local time, ahead of schedule. However, its return flight UA203 was canceled following the incident.

CNN suggested that the individual might have been attempting to stow away. Stowing away in an aircraft's wheel well poses significant risks due to extreme conditions such as low oxygen levels and temperature variations during flights. According to FAA data, over 77% of those who attempt this do not survive.

There have been rare instances where stowaways survived similar attempts. In January 2022, a man survived an 11-hour flight hidden in a cargo jet's nose wheel section from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport despite severe cold conditions.