Two individuals were found deceased inside the landing gear of a commercial aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident, which occurred during a routine post-flight inspection. The airline has expressed its commitment to assisting with the investigation and understanding how these individuals gained access to the aircraft. This event follows a similar discovery on Christmas Eve, where a body was found in the wheel well of a flight arriving in Hawaii from Chicago.
An Airbus A321 operated by JetBlue arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from New York's JFK International Airport. Upon landing, a tragic discovery was made when maintenance staff conducted a standard post-flight check. The presence of two deceased individuals within the aircraft's landing gear sent shockwaves through the airport community. The airline promptly notified authorities, who have since taken over the investigation to determine how these people accessed the plane.
The airline issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the situation and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement. "This is an extremely distressing event," the company noted, emphasizing their dedication to uncovering the facts. Initial reports suggest that the plane landed at approximately 11:10 PM local time, but details about how the individuals entered the aircraft remain unclear. Airport operations continued without disruption, according to officials.
This recent tragedy brings to light concerns about aviation security protocols, especially after a similar incident occurred just weeks earlier. On Christmas Eve, a body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight that landed in Maui. Both incidents highlight potential vulnerabilities in airport and aircraft security systems. Authorities are now scrutinizing current measures to prevent unauthorized access to planes.
In the earlier case, the individual was found in the wheel well of a Boeing 787-10 aircraft after it arrived from Chicago O'Hare. The airline stated that they were collaborating with law enforcement to gather more information. These occurrences underscore the need for enhanced security practices across the aviation industry. As investigations continue, experts are calling for a comprehensive review of existing safety protocols to ensure such incidents do not happen again.