A body found in the wheel well of a United Airlines aircraft that was traveling from Chicago to Hawaii is being looked into by authorities.
Uncertainty about the person’s identification and method of accessing the landing gear raises concerns over security and the dangers of stowaway attempts.
A body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines aircraft Tuesday after it touched down at Kahului Airport in Maui, a heartbreaking discovery. How and why the person entered the aircraft’s landing gear compartment are still unknown, as the flight had already taken off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The wheel well, which holds the aircraft’s primary landing gear, may only be accessed from the outside, according to United Airlines. Authorities, notably the Maui Police Department, which is in charge of the investigation, are working with the airline.
No other information has been made public regarding the deceased’s identity or motivations.
Extreme cold, oxygen deprivation, and the possibility of being crushed by the aircraft’s mechanics are among the potentially fatal hazards faced by wheel well stowaways.
Although survival is uncommon, people have survived these dangerous circumstances in the past. Most attempts, though, end tragically.
This incident brings to light persistent security issues as well as the desperation that pushes people to take such risky actions.
The aviation industry is left wondering how to stop such incidents from happening again as investigators try to piece together what transpired.
