A harrowing discovery was made at Gatwick Airport on Tuesday morning when a body was found lodged in the undercarriage of an Air Arabia flight that had arrived from Tangier, Morocco. The aircraft touched down at approximately 11:45 BST, prompting emergency services to be swiftly deployed after airport staff identified the presence of the individual.
The incident has prompted an investigation by Sussex Police, who are working alongside HM Coroner to establish the circumstances surrounding the man's death. Airport officials have confirmed that their teams are providing support to both Sussex Police and HM Coroner as they carry out their inquiries. Air Arabia has been approached for comment on the incident.
Preliminary information suggests that the deceased was an unidentified black male, although his identity remains unconfirmed at this time. The flight from The Gambia to the UK typically spans a distance of approximately 4,444 km (2,760 miles), with most direct journeys taking around six and a half hours. The extreme conditions within an aircraft's landing gear – including sub-zero temperatures and a lack of oxygen at high altitudes – significantly reduce the likelihood of survival for anyone attempting to travel in this manner.
This incident is sadly not isolated, with previous cases of stowaways being found deceased in the UK serving as a grim reminder of the desperate measures some individuals are forced to take. Notable past events include the discovery of Mohammed Ayaz, who fell from a plane and died near Heathrow Airport in 2001. Another individual was also found to have fallen from a Heathrow-bound aircraft onto nearby industrial premises four years earlier.