A dead body was found in the wheel well of a Boeing 787-10 United Airlines aircraft at Kahului Airport in Maui. The flight numbered 202, had arrived from Chicago O'Hare International Airport on December 24, and the body was discovered by airport staff. United Airlines confirmed the incident on Christmas Day, and the Maui Police Department is investigating. The airline pointed out that the wheel well, accessible only from outside the plane, is not a usual place for someone to hide, raising questions about how and when the person got there.
Despite stringent pre-flight inspection procedures designed to prevent such occurrences, this is not the first time a stowaway has been found in such perilous conditions. As reported by KHON2, veteran pilot Jay VonBrimer stated "Every aircraft has to be inspected right before flight, after all the ground equipment is clear of it, and after all the ground personnel are clear of it." Somewhat chillingly, VonBrimer believes that for someone to hide in the wheel well, "It's got to be intentional." The risks, which include perilously low temperatures, minimal oxygen, and the dangers posed by the aircraft's mechanics, render the wheel wells "non-survivable" for the unprepared and unwitting.
Exploring the associated risks, VonBrimer elaborated on the extremely hazardous conditions inside the wheel well, where the environment is similar to "Mount Everest," with temperatures plummeting between minus 30 to minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit at cruising altitudes. Describing the lack of oxygen and air pressure, he noted, "Even if you're in superb shape you might be able to last, maybe five,10, 20 minutes. But a normal person's useful consciousness there, it's maybe 20 to 60 seconds," a statement obtained by KHON2. The account provided by Civil Beat paints a stark image of the grueling conditions endured by those who attempt to stow away in such a manner.
In stark contrast to the tragic case, a 15-year-old survived a similar ordeal in 2014 on a flight from San Jose to Maui. The teenager, who had reportedly been trying to reach his mother in Somalia, walked away from the wheel well an hour after the Hawaiian Airlines flight landed, according to KHON2. No charges were filed, highlighting the desperation that leads people to take such dangerous risks. The Maui Police Department is continuing its investigation to bring clarity to the tragic discovery made on Christmas Eve.
