Body Discovered in Wheel Well After American Airlines Flight Lands in Hawaii
Body Discovered in Wheel Well After United Airlines Flight Lands in Hawaii
On December 24, 2024, a tragic discovery was made at Maui’s Kahului Airport when a deceased individual was found in the wheel well of United Airlines Flight 202, which had arrived from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, had previously flown from São Paulo, Brazil, to Chicago before its journey to Hawaii. The wheel well, located in the main landing gear, is only accessible from the exterior of the plane, raising questions about how and when the individual entered this compartment.
United Airlines stated that they are cooperating with the Maui Police Department in an ongoing investigation. The identity of the deceased has not been released, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances that led to this incident.
Stowaways who hide in aircraft wheel wells face extreme dangers, including hypothermia, hypoxia, and the risk of being crushed by retracting landing gear. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, between 1947 and 2021, 132 individuals attempted such stowaway journeys, with a mortality rate of approximately 77%.
This incident underscores the severe risks associated with unauthorized attempts to travel in aircraft wheel wells and highlights the need for stringent security measures to prevent such occurrences.
