Two severely decomposed bodies were found in the wheel well of a JetBlue plane after it landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The gruesome discovery was made during a routine post-flight maintenance inspection, the airline confirmed.
The Airbus A320, originating from Kingston, Jamaica, had flown to New York City before its scheduled departure to Fort Lauderdale. The New York Post reported that the stowaways are believed to be Jamaican nationals. The plane had maintained a full schedule throughout the day, per data from FlightAware.
JetBlue responds to the incident
JetBlue issued a statement expressing their commitment to assisting authorities in understanding the circumstances of the tragedy. “This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred,” the airline said.
Authorities are investigating how the individuals accessed the aircraft’s landing gear compartment, a perilous and often fatal hiding place for stowaways.
Law enforcement comments on the investigation
Carey Codd, spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, said initial findings confirmed that the deceased were male, but their identities remain unknown. “Detectives will investigate all aspects of this incident, including the flight’s origins, where it had traveled, and how these individuals boarded the plane,” Codd explained. The bodies were reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition, raising questions about how long they had been in the compartment.
An anonymous technician first spotted the bodies and alerted authorities. A Broward County Sheriff’s Office radio log recorded the technician reporting “two males who appear to be Signal 7,” a law enforcement code indicating deceased persons.
No impact on airport operations
Arlene Satchell, a spokesperson for the Broward County Aviation Department, confirmed that the investigation has not disrupted airport operations. All passengers aboard the flight had already disembarked when the bodies were discovered. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is collaborating with JetBlue and other entities to determine how this breach occurred.
Stowaways in wheel wells face extreme conditions, including low oxygen levels and subzero temperatures, often resulting in death. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about security lapses and the risks individuals take in search of better opportunities. Authorities continue to investigate the tragic incident while emphasizing the need to bolster airport and airline security measures.