Florida: A tragic discovery was made late Monday night, December 6th, at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when two bodies were found in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue Airways plane. The terrifying find occurred during a routine inspection after the aircraft had landed following a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
A Busy Flight Schedule
The Airbus A320 involved in the incident had a hectic schedule before arriving in Fort Lauderdale. The plane began its day in Kingston, Jamaica, flew to JFK in New York, continued to Salt Lake City, Utah, returned to JFK, and completed its final leg in Fort Lauderdale.
Investigators are now examining surveillance footage from all airports where the plane operated to determine when and where the individuals accessed the aircraft.
JetBlue’s Statement
JetBlue confirmed the incident, stating: “The circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation. This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred.”
The Broward Sheriff’s Office reported that both individuals were male. However, their identities remain unknown at this time.
Deadly Risks of Stowing Away
The wheel well, where the bodies were discovered, is one of the most dangerous places to hide on an aircraft. It is unpressurized and unheated, with temperatures at cruising altitude—around 38,000 feet—dropping far below freezing.
“Stowaway” refers to a person who illegally hides on a vehicle, such as a plane, to travel without a ticket or permission
Stowaways face not only freezing temperatures but also a lack of oxygen and the deafening noise of the engines and wind. Unfortunately, tragedies like this are not unheard of. Recently, during the holiday season, a body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui.
A large number of stowaways have been concealed in airplane wheel wells since 1947. The majority die during the experience, either from hypoxia (a lack of oxygen) or hypothermia brought on by the frigid temperatures at high altitude, or from being crushed by retracted landing gear.
Possible Jamaican Connection
There is speculation that the two men might have boarded the plane in Jamaica, though this has not been confirmed. The Jamaica Observer reported that the deceased are believed to be Jamaican nationals, but this claim has not been verified by U.S. authorities.
Jamaica’s Foreign Minister, Kamina Smith, addressed the situation on social media, stating: “We have noted distressing reports in the media regarding the discovery of two deceased persons in the wheel well of an aircraft in Fort Lauderdale. While there is speculation regarding the nationalities of the persons found, our information to date is that this matter is still under investigation by authorities, with the identities of the deceased individuals yet to be officially confirmed.”
Security Concerns
The incident highlights a possible security lapse, as investigators work to determine how the individuals bypassed multiple layers of airport security to access the aircraft.
Before each flight, pilots must stroll around the plane as per protocol. The wheel wells are checked as part of the inspection process. According to Van Cleave, the people involved may not have been visible right away in this instance.
JetBlue stated that neither of the deceased was an employee of the airline.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities, including Broward sheriff’s deputies, federal investigators, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are now trying to piece together the events leading to this tragic discovery. The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies to determine the cause of death.
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