Stowaway dies after hiding in landing gear of American Airlines flight

On Sunday morning, September 27, 2025, a tragedy unfolded at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina when the body of a stowaway was discovered in the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight that had recently arrived from Europe. The grim finding was made by maintenance crews who were conducting routine checks on the aircraft shortly after 9 a.m. local time. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to the scene and pronounced the individual dead. Authorities have not released information regarding the identity or origin of the stowaway, prompting an investigation by the CMPD homicide unit. This incident highlights the extreme dangers associated with stowing away on commercial flights, a practice that has been known to have a high fatality rate. Reports suggest that more than 77% of individuals who attempt to stow away on airplanes do not survive due to the perilous conditions in the landing gear compartment, where exposure to extreme cold and lack of oxygen can have fatal consequences. An aviation expert noted that stowaways face temperatures that can drop to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which can lead to severe frostbite or brain death within the 35,000 feet altitude where oxygen is scant. In response to the incident, American Airlines issued a statement expressing their cooperation with law enforcement during the ongoing investigation. They also acknowledged the tragedy of discovering the deceased stowaway. A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas International Airport expressed deep sadness over the situation, emphasizing their commitment to support the investigation as needed while assuring the public that normal airport operations continued despite the incident. Authorities are expected to release more information as the investigation unfolds. The discovery of a deceased stowaway raises important questions about airline security and the desperation that drives individuals to undertake such dangerous attempts to cross international borders. Stowaway cases are indeed rare; however, they garner attention each time due to the life-threatening risks involved. The officials have urged anyone with relevant information about the incident to come forward, emphasizing collective efforts to address this ongoing issue of airport safety and the humanitarian crises that push individuals to seek perilous routes for migration.