Authorities reported that two bodies were discovered in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in South Florida. The bodies were found in the wheel well area during a routine post-flight maintenance inspection on Monday night. The aircraft had recently arrived in Fort Lauderdale from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, shortly after 11 p.m.
Details about the individuals found in the landing gear compartment were not immediately released as of Tuesday. The discovery of the bodies raised questions about how they managed to access the restricted area of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding their presence in the wheel well.
Incidents involving stowaways in aircraft wheel wells are rare but extremely dangerous due to the lack of oxygen and extreme temperatures at high altitudes during flight. The discovery of the bodies prompted an investigation by authorities to determine the identities of the individuals and the events leading up to their tragic end.
JetBlue, the airline operating the aircraft, expressed condolences for the individuals found in the landing gear compartment and stated that they were cooperating with authorities in the investigation. The airline emphasized the importance of safety and security protocols to prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas of the aircraft.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the timeline of events and gather any available information that may shed light on how the individuals ended up in the wheel well of the JetBlue aircraft. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with attempting to stow away on an aircraft and the potential consequences of such actions.
