A person was found deceased inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines aircraft at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Sunday morning. The discovery was made by maintenance workers performing a routine inspection after the plane completed a flight from Europe.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were called to a hangar on the airport property to investigate the incident. The individual, believed to be a stowaway, was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. American Airlines has confirmed it is cooperating fully with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.
Key Takeaways
- A deceased individual was discovered in the landing gear of an American Airlines plane at Charlotte-Douglas Airport.
- The discovery occurred during post-flight maintenance on Sunday morning.
- The aircraft had recently arrived from an unspecified location in Europe.
- The person is believed to have been a stowaway.
- An official investigation led by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is underway.
Discovery During Post-Flight Maintenance
The incident began around 9 a.m. on Sunday when police were dispatched to the 5000 block of Hangar Drive, an area of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport designated for aircraft maintenance. According to reports from local affiliate WSOC-TV, ground crews were conducting standard checks on the aircraft when they found the body.
The plane had been moved to the hangar for service following its international flight. It was during this inspection of the wheel well, a critical part of post-flight procedure, that the tragic discovery was made. First responders were immediately called to the scene, but the individual was pronounced deceased upon their arrival.
Post-Flight Inspections
Aircraft undergo rigorous inspections after every flight, especially long-haul international routes. Maintenance crews check key systems, including engines, hydraulics, and landing gear. These checks are designed to ensure the aircraft's airworthiness for its next flight and can reveal issues that are not apparent during operation, including the presence of foreign objects or, in rare cases, human remains.
Investigation and Official Response
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is leading the investigation into the person's death. A primary focus will be to identify the individual and determine their country of origin. This process often involves collaboration with international law enforcement agencies and consular officials.
American Airlines released a statement confirming the event and its cooperation with authorities. An airline spokesperson stated, "American Airlines is working with law enforcement on an investigation after a person was found deceased in the landing gear of an aircraft." The airline has not released further details about the specific flight or its European point of departure, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
"We are saddened by this event and are working closely with law enforcement in their investigation," an unnamed airline representative noted in a preliminary communication.
The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. While the investigation is in its early stages, authorities are treating the case as that of a stowaway who did not survive the flight.
The Extreme Dangers of Stowing Away
Attempting to stow away in an aircraft's landing gear compartment is exceptionally dangerous, with a very low survival rate. Individuals face a combination of life-threatening conditions almost immediately after takeoff.
Survival is Extremely Unlikely
According to data from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the survival rate for individuals attempting to stow away in wheel wells is estimated to be less than 25%. From 1947 to early 2024, there have been over 130 known stowaway attempts worldwide on commercial flights.
Key Risks for Stowaways
Individuals who hide in the landing gear face several immediate dangers:
- Hypoxia: As the aircraft ascends to cruising altitudes of 30,000 to 40,000 feet, the air becomes extremely thin, leading to a severe lack of oxygen. Unconsciousness can occur within minutes.
- Hypothermia: Temperatures at cruising altitude can drop to -50 degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower. This extreme cold quickly leads to severe hypothermia and frostbite.
- Physical Trauma: The landing gear compartment is not designed for human occupancy. Individuals can be crushed by the retracting gear mechanisms or can fall from the aircraft during takeoff or landing.
- Deafening Noise: The noise levels during takeoff and landing can cause permanent hearing damage.
The combination of these factors makes survival a rare exception. The few who have survived were often on shorter flights at lower altitudes, but even then, they typically suffer from severe medical complications upon arrival.
Airport Security and International Flights
This incident raises questions about airport security protocols at the flight's point of origin. Airports worldwide employ multi-layered security systems to prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas, including the tarmac and parked aircraft. These measures include perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras, security patrols, and access control points for all personnel.
Despite these measures, security breaches can occur. Investigations into stowaway incidents often focus on identifying the security lapse that allowed an individual to access the aircraft undetected before departure. The investigation into this case will likely involve a thorough review of security procedures at the European airport from which the flight departed.
Authorities will examine surveillance footage and access logs to determine how the person gained entry to the airfield. The findings from this investigation could lead to recommendations for enhanced security protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
