A body was discovered on a Boeing 787-10 aircraft that flew from Chicago to Maui on Christmas Eve. The plane, United Airlines Flight UA202, arrived at Kahului airport on Tuesday afternoon and was found to have a person in the wheel well. According to the airline, the person accessed the area from outside the aircraft.
United Airlines is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident. The Maui Police Department has also launched an investigation into how the body ended up on the plane. It’s unclear how or when the person died, but officials say they are looking into all possible scenarios.
The discovery comes as a reminder of the dangers of stowaways attempting to hide in aircraft wheel wells. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, over 77% of people who have tried this method have died. Stowaways face extreme conditions on an airplane, including low oxygen levels and freezing temperatures that can cause frostbite and hypothermia.
As a precautionary measure, hiding in a plane’s wheel well is not a recommended or safe way to travel. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in attempting to hitch a ride on an aircraft.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/25/us/united-airlines-plane-body-found-hawaii/index.html