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Stowaway Found Dead in American Airlines Wheel Well
Maintenance crews found a stowaway dead in the aircraft wheel well after an American Airlines flight landed in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On Sunday morning, maintenance staff discovered the body in the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines jet after it arrived at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) from a European city that has not been disclosed. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office have launched an investigation; American Airlines confirmed the incident and said it is cooperating with authorities.
The airline did not release the flight number, aircraft type or the origin airport. Stowaway attempts on commercial jets are rare but typically fatal because the wheel well (also called the landing gear bay) exposes occupants to extreme cold, hypoxia and violent forces during climb and cruise.
Stowaway wheel well risks and why they’re usually fatal
Wheel well compartments are not pressurized or heated like passenger cabins. Temperatures can drop well below freezing and oxygen levels fall at cruising altitude, causing loss of consciousness within minutes. Even if someone survives ascent, the retracting and extending gear and confined space make survival unlikely.
- Key reasons stowaway wheel well attempts fail: extreme cold, lack of breathable air, and mechanical hazards during gear cycles.
Airport and airline safety teams typically screen aircraft bays during turnaround and maintenance checks; in this case, the body was found during post-flight maintenance. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have not released an identity or cause of death pending the Medical Examiner’s report. American Airlines’ public statement emphasized cooperation with investigators and support for affected staff.
This incident highlights the persistent — but infrequent — danger of people attempting to stow away on long-haul flights. Airports and airlines continue to review perimeter security and ground procedures to deter access to aircraft prior to departure.
