Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating after a body was discovered in the landing gear of an American Airlines plane at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Sunday morning.
According to CMPD, the grim discovery was made shortly after 9 a.m. on September 28 while maintenance crews were working on an aircraft that had recently arrived from Europe. CMPD’s Airport Division officers responded and pronounced the stowaway dead at the scene.
Homicide Unit detectives were called in to investigate, while Crime Scene Search processed evidence from the plane. CMPD Operations Command and MEDIC also assisted at the scene. Officials have not released the individual’s identity or details about the flight.
Although rare, hiding in a plane’s wheel well is the most common method used by stowaways attempting dangerous journeys. The Federal Aviation Administration reported in 2019 that more than 77% of people who attempt to stow away in landing gear die due to extreme cold or lack of oxygen.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call CMPD at 704-432-8477 or contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
