CHICAGO- Hawaii authorities discovered a body in the wheel well of a United Airlines (UA) plane at Maui Airport (OGG), Hawaii on December 24, 2024. The aircraft completed its flight from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The incident highlights the dangers of stowaways attempting to hide in aircraft wheel wells for clandestine journeys.
Dead Body Found on United Airlines
The body was discovered on Flight UA202, which landed on time at Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui. Investigators are working to determine how the individual accessed the wheel well and the circumstances of their death.
Upon its arrival at Maui’s Kahului Airport, the body was found in the wheel well of a Boeing 787-10 aircraft.
United Airlines (UA) confirmed the discovery and stated that the area in question is accessible only from outside the aircraft.
This raises significant concerns about airport security and how the individual managed to enter such a restricted space.
United Airlines is cooperating with local law enforcement in Maui to unravel the events leading up to this incident. The Maui Police Department is conducting an investigation, but no further details have been released at this time.
Flight UA202 had departed from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and arrived on schedule.
The flight-tracking website FlightAware confirms that the journey proceeded without any reported anomalies.
Risks of Stowing in Aircraft
Stowing away in an aircraft’s wheel well is an exceptionally dangerous act, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reporting a fatality rate exceeding 77% among individuals attempting this method of illegal travel.
The wheel well is a perilous environment. When landing gear retracts after takeoff, the confined space poses a significant risk of crushing.
Additionally, as the aircraft ascends, oxygen levels plummet, and temperatures can drop to as low as -75 to -80°F. These extreme conditions often lead to hypothermia, frostbite, or loss of consciousness.
The chances of surviving such a journey are slim, making this incident yet another tragic reminder of the risks some people take in pursuit of travel or escape.
Implications for Aviation Security
This incident raises important questions about airport security protocols. Given that the wheel well can only be accessed externally, it is crucial to identify how the individual bypassed security at O’Hare International Airport.
Airlines and airports worldwide face ongoing challenges in preventing such breaches.
Enhanced perimeter security, surveillance, and routine inspections are essential to mitigate risks associated with stowaways and protect both passengers and crew.
Similar Incident
Sussex Metropolitan Police discovered an unidentified black male in the wheel bay of TUI Airways (BY) flight BY225 at London’s Gatwick Airport on December 5, 2022. The flight originated from Banjul, Gambia.
The Gambian government received notification from British authorities after finding the deceased man without identification documents. The lack of documentation prevents authorities from determining his name, age, nationality, or intended destination.
Medical teams transferred the body to Worthing Hospital for examination. Gambian government spokesman Ebrima G. Sankareh confirms that authorities from both countries launched investigations and will conduct DNA testing to identify the deceased.
The incident joins a pattern of similar cases involving African routes to Europe. Amsterdam police found a live stowaway in a cargo plane’s nose wheel from Kenya earlier in 2022. A related incident occurred in 2019 when a suspected stowaway fell from a Kenya Airways plane over England.
The Gambian authorities emphasize their commitment to a thorough investigation alongside British police. They pledge to release updates as the investigation progresses and new information becomes available.
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