Two bodies were found in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida on Monday night. The discovery was made during a routine post-flight inspection, and authorities are investigating how the individuals accessed the plane.
The aircraft had arrived from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York shortly after 11 p.m. The victims were both men, but their identities remain unknown at this time. Paramedics declared them dead at the scene, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.
According to officials, the jet had made stops in Kingston, Jamaica, and Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier on Monday. Authorities have not specified where they think the individuals got into the wheel well, but speculate that they may be of Jamaican origin.
Autopsies are planned for both bodies to determine how they died. The Transportation Security Administration is working closely with JetBlue, the airport, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident.
The discovery raises concerns about security within the nation’s aviation system, particularly in regards to accessing aircraft without going through normal procedures. It is the second time this year that a body has been found in an airplane’s wheel well.
The airline industry has seen several incidents recently, including unticketed passengers boarding flights. A Russian national was arrested at Paris-bound Delta Air Lines flight in New York last November, and a passenger without a ticket was discovered on a Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle to Honolulu on Christmas Eve.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/jetblue-aircraft-bodies-florida-67485cd731e0933011b61cda112c6f38