Nearly three months after the tragic incident, officials in Broward County confirmed on April 3 that the bodies discovered in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane on January 6 belonged to Dominican teenagers Elvis Borquez Castillo, 16, and Jake Anilus Lucy, 17. This heartbreaking event, shocking due to its circumstances, now carries the haunting voice of a mother struggling to comprehend why her son boarded that plane.
Ironely Castillo, Elvis's mother, expressed her grief in an interview with Univision, revealing the heartache she’s endured since learning of her son's fate. "Try not to go through what I went through," she tearfully advises other parents, urging them to maintain open communication with their children. "Maybe he didn't feel comfortable talking to me, not because I didn't support him, but sometimes, young people in that situation are a bit...," she said, her voice breaking as she referred to the typical challenges of adolescence.
"Parents should get closer to their children and listen to them... not that I didn't listen to mine, I did," she added, suggesting her son might not have dared to share his plans. Ironely's anguish is compounded by unanswered questions: What drove her son to hide in an airplane? Who convinced him? Was he fleeing something?
Official Confirmation Deepens the Pain
Since January, families suspected something terrible had happened. While the signs were strong, official confirmation was absent until three months later, which reignited their sorrow rather than bringing peace. "Knowing the truth one hundred percent also brings additional pain and revives that anguish, and that time that has passed, no one will bring their children back to life," stated Angel Leonel Canó, the lawyer representing both families.
On January 6, Fort Lauderdale International Airport staff made a harrowing discovery. Two bodies were found within the landing gear compartment of a plane that had arrived from New York. The JetBlue aircraft had previously stopped in Jamaica, Utah, New York, and the Dominican Republic. Investigations suggest the teens hid on the plane on January 5, likely during its stopover in the Dominican Republic, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Did They Have Help?
Attorney Canó does not rule out the possibility that someone advised the teenagers on how to execute their illegal travel attempt. "Someone must have told them, 'Enter here, climb here, this is the plane, don't go to the back, stay in the front.' There are questions we'll also raise with the Department of Homeland Security investigation," he stated.
The fact that two minors accessed a highly restricted area of a commercial airplane undetected raises serious concerns about airport security failures.
FAQs on the Tragic Incident Involving Dominican Teens
What prompted the teenagers to hide in the airplane's landing gear?
The exact reasons remain unknown, but the tragedy has left the family with many unanswered questions about the motivations and circumstances that led to this desperate act.
Have authorities confirmed how the teenagers managed to access the plane?
Investigations are ongoing, but it is suspected that they may have boarded during a stopover in the Dominican Republic. However, the exact details are still under review.
What security measures are being questioned following this incident?
The ability of two minors to access a restricted area of a commercial airplane without detection has raised concerns about airport security protocols and their effectiveness.