A man died from extreme cold after hiding in the landing gear of a passenger jet that flew into England from Morocco, an inquest has heard.
The body was discovered inside the wheel compartment of an Air Arabia flight after it touched down in England. Investigators believe the man climbed into the landing gear bay before the aircraft departed, hoping to make it to the UK alive. He did not survive the journey.
Temperatures in aircraft wheel bays can plummet to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius at cruising altitude. There is also barely any oxygen at that height, and the space offers no protection from the brutal conditions outside the fuselage. Survival is almost unheard of, yet people continue to attempt the crossing in desperate circumstances.
The inquest is now working to establish exactly who the man was and where he came from. Authorities have been piecing together the details of how he managed to access the aircraft and conceal himself before takeoff.
Air Arabia operates routes across North Africa and the Middle East, and the flight in question had departed from Morocco before landing in England. Ground crew made the grim discovery after the plane arrived at its destination.
Cases like this one shine a light on the lengths some people will go to in order to reach the UK. Hiding in landing gear is one of the most dangerous methods imaginable, with survival rates extremely low. The combination of freezing temperatures, lack of oxygen, and the mechanical movement of the landing gear during takeoff and landing makes it almost certainly fatal.
Over the years, a number of stowaways have been found dead in the wheel bays of aircraft arriving at English airports. Occasionally, and remarkably, some have survived, but those cases are rare and the individuals involved typically suffer serious injuries or long-term health consequences.
Authorities have not yet formally identified the man, and the inquest continues to gather evidence. The coroner is expected to hear more details about the circumstances surrounding his death in the coming weeks.
The case has once again raised questions about airport security at departure points and how individuals are able to access aircraft undetected. It also puts the spotlight back on the dangerous and desperate journeys people undertake when they feel they have no other way of reaching safety or a better life.
For now, the man remains unidentified, and his full story is still being pieced together by those tasked with finding out exactly what happened on that flight from Morocco.
absolutely heartbreaking. that poor person must have been so desperate to risk something like that. makes you think about what drives people to such extremes just to have a better life somewhere. rest in peace.