Christmas Eve at Kahului Airport in Maui took a grim turn when a shocking discovery was made on United Airlines Flight 202. A dead body was found in the wheel well of the aircraft’s main landing gear after it landed from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The Boeing 787-10 plane had departed Chicago at 9: 31 am native day on Tuesday, arriving in Maui at 2: 12 am native time, according to FlightAware. After landing, airport staff discovered the body in a compartment that is only available from the outside of the plane.
In a statement, United Airlines confirmed the finding:
A body was discovered in the vehicle also of one of the major getting wheels on a United plane upon arrival at Kahului Airport in Maui. It is not known how or when the person first successfully accessed the vehicle at this time.
A risky gambit in the clouds
The ominous get illuminates the risky maneuvers made by people in the landing gear divisions of airplanes. These spots, roughly the size of a smaller car tree, pose significant risks. More than 77 % of those who tried to stow things away in these compartments have died, according to the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ).
Fugitives experience oxygen hunger as planes walk to cruising heights, often exceeding 30, 000 feet. Temperatures in the wheel well may drop to -80°F, causing frost, hypothermia, and subsequent loss of consciousness. A serious danger is posed by getting gear’s own contraction.
Despite these risks, there have been rare individuals. In 2021, a 26-year-old person defied the odds, surviving a journey from Guatemala to Miami in a takeoff gear area. But, tragedies are far more popular. A person died in 2019 after leaving Nairobi while attempting to land a British Airways flight.
Investigation pending
The circumstances surrounding the most recent tragedy are currently being looked into by Maui officers. Alana K. Pico, a spokesperson for the office, said the system remains unnamed, and the cause of suicide is yet to be determined.
As the research progresses, United Airlines has pledged to work with law enforcement in total. Particularly with the airport security measures in place, it is still unclear how the person accessed the limited place.
The FAA has yet to comment on the event. In addition, the finding raises concerns about airport security and the fervor that motivates people to put everything on hold for an uncertain trip.
As the research continues, one thing is sure: the wheel well of an airplane is not just a confined space—it is a territory of great peril, where dreams of escape to often turn into deadly endings.
