Stowaway Found Deceased in American Airlines Flight Landing Gear at Charlotte Airport
A stowaway was found dead in the landing gear of an American Airlines flight at Charlotte airport, confirmed by authorities, initiating an investigation.
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Overview
- A deceased stowaway was discovered inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight upon its arrival at Charlotte airport, marking a tragic incident.
- Airport division officers were the first responders on the scene, where they officially pronounced the individual dead, confirming the grim discovery.
- American Airlines is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies in their comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stowaway's death.
- The investigation aims to determine the flight's origin, how the individual accessed the landing gear, and other pertinent details of this unfortunate event.
- This incident highlights the extreme dangers associated with attempting to travel as a stowaway in aircraft landing gear, often resulting in fatal outcomes.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, focusing on the factual reporting of a tragic discovery. They prioritize official statements from authorities and the airline, providing context on the inherent dangers of stowing away in aircraft landing gear without injecting editorial opinion or sensationalism.
"The individual was discovered inside one of the main landing gear compartments while the maintenance crew was working on the aircraft, which had arrived from Europe."
USA TODAY"A stowaway was found dead Sunday in the landing gear of an American Airlines flight that arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Europe, according to police."
ABC NewsArticles (3)
FAQ
Stowaways in aircraft landing gear compartments face extreme risks, including physical injury or being crushed as the landing gear retracts, hypothermia and hypoxia due to low temperatures and atmospheric pressure at high altitudes, and hearing damage from prolonged exposure to high noise levels outside the cabin.
The American Airlines flight arrived at Charlotte airport from Europe when the stowaway was found deceased in its landing gear compartment.
American Airlines is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies in a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the stowaway's death, including how the individual accessed the landing gear and the flight's origin details.
Between 1947 and June 2015, there were at least 113 documented attempts of wheel-well stowaways on 101 flights, with a 76 percent fatality rate (86 deaths), indicating that such attempts are rare but highly dangerous and often fatal.
Airport division officers at Charlotte airport were the first responders who arrived at the scene and officially pronounced the stowaway deceased in the landing gear compartment of the American Airlines flight.
History
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