What’s New
Hawaii authorities are investigating a dead body found in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that flew from Chicago to Maui on Christmas Eve.
Newsweek has contacted United Airlines, Boeing, and the Maui Police Department for further comment via email outside of normal office hours.
Why It Matters
The discovery of a deceased individual in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight highlights the desperation of stowaways and the extreme dangers they face in such compartments, as well as raising concerns about airport and plane security.
Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images
What To Know
According to United Airlines’ website, Flight 202 took off from O’Hare Airport at 9:30 a.m. on December 24 and arrived at Maui’s Kahului Airport at 2:12 p.m. local time.
According to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now, the Maui Police Department is investigating the discovery of the body, how it got there and how the person died.
A plane wheel well is a compartment in the wings or fuselage where the landing gear is stored when not in use. It is a hazardous location for stowaways, who could encounter low oxygen levels, hypothermia, crushing, or the risk of falling during the flight.
Stowaways often get crushed when the landing gear retracts, as there is not much room.
Hiding in an airplane’s wheel well is the most common method used by stowaways in their attempts to reach their destination. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, at least 77 percent of individuals who have tried to unlawfully board an aircraft this way have died.
As the flight reaches higher altitudes, conditions worsen. Oxygen levels drop significantly, making it difficult for stowaways to stay conscious. Outside temperatures can plummet to as low as 75 or 80 degrees below zero, severely affecting blood circulation. Stowaways face the risk of frostbite and even hypothermia.
What People Are Saying
United Airlines told CNN in a statement on Wednesday: “Upon arrival at Kahului airport in Maui on Tuesday, a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft.”
“The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft,” United Airlines said. “At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well.”
“United is working with law enforcement authorities on the investigation,” the statement read.
What’s Next
Investigations into the mysterious death are ongoing as the Maui Police Department continues its inquiries.