On the evening of January 6th, the bodies of two men were discovered within the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. This grim discovery was made on JetBlue flight 1801, which had departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York at 7:30 p.m., landing in Fort Lauderdale at 10:42 p.m., according to radar records.
The shocking find occurred during a routine post-landing inspection conducted at Terminal 3 of the airport. JetBlue issued a statement, reported by local media, confirming the incident: “On the evening of Monday, January 6th, two individuals were found in the landing gear compartment of one of our aircraft during a routine maintenance inspection after the flight.” The airline expressed their distress over the situation, vowing to cooperate fully with authorities to determine how this incident transpired.
Authorities have yet to identify the victims or explain how they accessed the landing gear compartment. Carey Codd, spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff's Office, stated that paramedics arrived at the scene around 11:30 p.m. and declared the victims deceased on-site. The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct autopsies to ascertain the precise causes of death.
Impact on Airport Operations
Despite the severity of the incident, Arlene Satchell, spokesperson for the Broward County Aviation Department, assured CNN that the discovery did not disrupt airport operations. Concurrently, a spokesperson for Fort Lauderdale's government noted that poor weather conditions in the northeastern United States led to the cancellation of seven flights and delays for 17 others, though these issues were unrelated to the discovery of the bodies.
Risks of Stowaway Attempts
This tragic event highlights the extreme dangers faced by individuals attempting to stow away in aircraft landing gear compartments. Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, emphasized the ongoing security risks, stating, “People are accessing airport facilities and boarding planes, posing a significant threat to aircraft safety.” While acknowledging that some individuals take these risks out of desperation, Schiavo pointed out that unauthorized access to aircraft is a serious national security concern.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has repeatedly explained that these compartments, designed to house the landing gear during flight, are inhospitable environments. As planes ascend, stowaways risk being crushed, losing oxygen, or suffering from hypothermia due to extremely low temperatures. According to a 2011 FAA report, approximately 80% of individuals attempting such perilous travel do not survive.
Recent Incidents Raise Alarm
This is not an isolated incident. Just two weeks ago, a body was discovered in the wheel compartment of a United Airlines flight traveling from Chicago to Maui. During the holiday travel season, there were also reports of two stowaway attempts on Delta flights. In one case, a woman without a ticket managed to board a flight from New York to Paris before being apprehended.
The Fort Lauderdale incident reignites the discussion about enhancing airport security measures to prevent similar tragedies and ensure the safety and integrity of air travel. In August 2019, a Cuban man named Yunier García Duarte successfully stowed away in the cargo hold of a Swift Air commercial flight from Havana to Miami.
Understanding the Stowaway Crisis
What dangers do stowaways face in landing gear compartments?
Stowaways risk being crushed, losing oxygen, and suffering from hypothermia due to low temperatures in these inhospitable environments.
How did the incident affect Fort Lauderdale Airport operations?
The discovery did not impact airport operations, although unrelated weather issues in the northeast caused some flight cancellations and delays.
Have there been other recent stowaway incidents?
Yes, a body was found on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui, and there were two stowaway attempts on Delta flights during the holiday season.