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Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, are investigating the death of a stowaway found Sunday morning inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight.

The plane had recently arrived in Charlotte from Europe, and was undergoing maintenance when the body was discovered, according to a statement from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

The individual, whose identity and origin remain unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

An American Airlines spokesperson told CNN affiliate WSOC that the airline is working with law enforcement.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport said in a statement it was aware of the “tragic discovery.”

“We are deeply saddened by this news and will support Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) investigation as needed,” it said, adding that airport operations continue as normal.

CNN has reached out to American Airlines, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office for more information.

While extremely dangerous, hiding in a plane’s wheel well is the most common method used by stowaways in their sought-after journeys.

More than 77% of people who have attempted to stow away on aircraft have died, the Federal Aviation Administration said in 2019.

Sunday’s incident is the latest in a series of stowaways discovered in recent years, raising concerns over airline security

A little more than a week ago, a 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan was found wandering a tarmac in India after hiding in the landing gear of a plane that had traveled roughly 90 minutes from Kabul to Delhi. He was later repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.

In January, two people were found dead in the wheel well of a JetBlue flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The discovery came two weeks after a body was found in the wheel bay of a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui.

Ironfaceman:
A little more than a week ago, a 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan was found wandering a tarmac in India after hiding in the landing gear of a plane that had traveled roughly 90 minutes from Kabul to Delhi. He was later repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.

This caught my attention even more than the real story. What an heartless thing to do. No aota of human kindness. Shior!
This nairaland and 40 characters sef. Where am I supposed to get 40 characters now?

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/29/us/stowaway-death-american-airlines-hnk

PrincessDiana:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/29/us/stowaway-death

A little more than a week ago, a 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan was found wandering a tarmac in India after hiding in the landing gear of a plane that had traveled roughly 90 minutes from Kabul to Delhi. He was later repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.

PietyMan:
People should be very careful even though you need to leave Nigeria, do it in a safe way.

Originalsly:
Maybe he was warned but saw it as discouragement... warned that the cold would be too much ... but he was reasoning how can it be cold when the plane would be closer to the sun.

Ironfaceman:
Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, are investigating the death of a stowaway found Sunday morning inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight.

The plane had recently arrived in Charlotte from Europe, and was undergoing maintenance when the body was discovered, according to a statement from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

The individual, whose identity and origin remain unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

An American Airlines spokesperson told CNN affiliate WSOC that the airline is working with law enforcement.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport said in a statement it was aware of the “tragic discovery.”

“We are deeply saddened by this news and will support Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) investigation as needed,” it said, adding that airport operations continue as normal.

CNN has reached out to American Airlines, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office for more information.

While extremely dangerous, hiding in a plane’s wheel well is the most common method used by stowaways in their sought-after journeys.

More than 77% of people who have attempted to stow away on aircraft have died, the Federal Aviation Administration said in 2019.

Sunday’s incident is the latest in a series of stowaways discovered in recent years, raising concerns over airline security

A little more than a week ago, a 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan was found wandering a tarmac in India after hiding in the landing gear of a plane that had traveled roughly 90 minutes from Kabul to Delhi. He was later repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.

In January, two people were found dead in the wheel well of a JetBlue flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The discovery came two weeks after a body was found in the wheel bay of a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/29/us/stowaway-death-american-airlines-hnk

Konquest:
A little more than a week ago, a 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan was found wandering a tarmac in India after hiding in the landing gear of a plane that had traveled roughly 90 minutes from Kabul to Delhi. He was later repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.