The body of a man was discovered hidden in the landing gear compartment of an Air Arabia passenger plane after it landed at Gatwick Airport on Tuesday. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, had arrived from Tangier, Morocco, touching down at approximately 11:45 am.
Discovery by Cargo Team
The alarm was raised when cargo team members found the body during unloading. A source told The Sun: 'It's a tragedy. The cargo team unloading the plane had a horrible shock. Everyone is devastated that anyone would feel so desperate they would risk their life in this way.'
Sussex Police confirmed they were called to the scene. A spokesperson said: 'Police were called after the body of a man was found in the undercarriage of an aircraft at Gatwick Airport, arriving from Tangier, at about 11:45 am on Tuesday, June 16. Officers are investigating and a report will be prepared for HM Coroner.'
Risks of Stowing Away
Climbing into the wheel well of a plane is extremely dangerous. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, over 77% of people who have attempted this method have died. Risks include being crushed by the landing gear, frostbite, hypothermia, and low oxygen levels as the plane ascends.
This incident echoes previous tragedies. In September, a body was found in the landing gear of an American Airlines plane at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, which had arrived from an undisclosed European destination. In 2019, a man's body fell from a plane landing from Nairobi, Kenya, landing in a garden in Clapham, south London, just feet from a sunbathing homeowner.
Identifying stowaway victims is often challenging due to the illegal nature of the practice. Metro has contacted Air Arabia for comment.
