Authorities in North Carolina are investigating after a body was found inside the landing gear of an American Airlines plane that had just arrived from Europe. The discovery was made Sunday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Police said maintenance workers discovered the stowaway around 9 a.m. while servicing the aircraft on Hangar Road. Airport division officers confirmed the person was dead at the scene. The flight had recently landed from an undisclosed European city.
CMPD’s Homicide Unit has launched a death investigation to determine how the individual accessed the aircraft and whether the death occurred during the transatlantic flight. Officials have not released the victim’s identity or nationality. Investigators are working with federal authorities and the airline.
American Airlines issued a statement saying it is cooperating fully with law enforcement. “We are working with law enforcement on its investigation,” the airline said. The company expressed condolences to the person’s family, though next-of-kin have not been notified.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s tip line at 704-432-8477 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 704-334-1600.
This is not the first time a stowaway has been found in an airplane landing gear. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration notes that temperatures inside landing compartments can drop to minus 40 degrees, making survival rare on long-haul flights.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to release more details as they work to confirm the person’s identity and the circumstances surrounding the tragic discovery.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through the ads.