Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Tragic findings at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport raised concerns Monday when the deceased bodies of two stowaways were discovered in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft. This gruesome discovery was made by an airline technician during a routine post-flight inspection. Authorities reported that the men likely did not survive the flight’s initial leg from Jamaica to New York, given the harsh conditions they would have encountered.
The ill-fated journey began in Kingston, Jamaica, just after 1 a.m., with the aircraft making several stops, including New York and Salt Lake City, before concluding its day’s schedule in Florida. At cruising altitudes, temperatures can plummet below freezing, and oxygen levels significantly decrease, making any unauthorized wheel bay occupancy extremely perilous.
Initial speculation suggests the men were possibly Jamaican nationals, though positive identification has yet to be confirmed. The discovery was first indicated over airport police radio by an unidentified voice, stating the presence of two males, referred to as “Signal 7,” a code for deceased persons, in the wheel bay. The bodies displayed signs of advanced decomposition, suggesting they could have been in the bay across multiple flights.
The Transportation Security Administration, alongside local law enforcement and the Federal Aviation Administration, has launched an investigation into the deaths. JetBlue expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended full cooperation to the authorities in understanding the sequence of events leading to this tragic occurrence.
This incident draws attention to the hazards of stowaway attempts on commercial flights. Two weeks prior, another life was lost in a similar situation on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui. The harsh realities of such attempts have been documented extensively, including in a 2011 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report which estimated that approximately 80 percent of stowaways hiding in landing gear compartments do not survive.
The FAA highlights that individuals who undertake such risks often misjudge the space available and the environmental conditions in the wheel wells of aircraft. Those who do survive may face significant long-term physical and psychological injuries, attributable to extreme noise, freezing temperatures, and oxygen deprivation.
Historically, the nations from which stowaways most commonly originate have varied, though many such attempts have been linked to motives stemming from immigration or family reunification needs. According to Mary Schiavo, a former Department of Transportation Inspector General, while these attempts may be driven by desperation or profound personal reasons, the perilous nature of such ventures cannot be overstated.
In light of recent events, the transportation authorities and airlines may face increasing pressure to enhance security measures to prevent future tragedies, reassuring the public about the safety and oversight of international and domestic flights. The community and broader public hope for advances in airport security protocols and outreach initiatives that could deter such unsafe acts by addressing the factors that compel individuals to risk their lives in such a harrowing manner.