A deceased stowaway was discovered in the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines aircraft upon arrival at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The incident took place on a Sunday morning as maintenance staff were conducting routine checks on the plane that had just flown in from Europe. The individual was found in the landing gear and was pronounced dead by local law enforcement officers.
American Airlines confirmed their cooperation with the ongoing investigation led by authorities. They encouraged anyone with information to contact the police directly or provide anonymous tips through Charlotte Crime Stoppers. This incident follows a similar occurrence earlier in the year when two teenagers were found deceased in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane at a South Florida airport.
The teenagers, Jeik Aniluz Lusi, 18, and Elvis Borques Castillo, 16, were identified through DNA analysis. They were discovered during an inspection at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after the plane arrived from New York’s JFK Airport via the Dominican Republic.
JetBlue referred to the stowaway incident as tragic, highlighting the risks individuals take to enter different countries. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, only one in four stowaways survive such journeys, as noted by aviation expert Irene King in a BBC interview.
In a separate incident, a South African man named Themba Cabeka, now known as Justin, survived an 11-hour flight from Johannesburg to London by hiding in the undercarriage of a British Airways plane. He recounted his harrowing experience in a documentary, describing the extreme conditions he endured during the flight and the loss of his companion, Vale, who did not survive the journey.
Justin shared his memories of the ordeal and the challenges he faced, including severe injuries sustained during the flight. Despite the hardships, he managed to survive and now resides in Liverpool, reflecting on the dangerous journey that many stowaways undertake in search of a better life.