Frozen Bodies Found in JetBlue® Landing Gear

JetBlue A320-200, 2022. Photo by Tim under CC0 1.0.

A shocking discovery was made Jan. 6, 2025 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when maintenance workers found the decomposed bodies of two men in the wheel well of a JetBlue^® plane. The incident, which raises concerns about airline security, remains under investigation as authorities work to determine how the men accessed the aircraft.

Routine Inspection Reveals 2 Dead Bodies

The bodies were found during a post-flight inspection after the plane, an Airbus A320, landed in Fort Lauderdale around 11:10 p.m. from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). A gate technician inspecting the landing gear noticed the lifeless bodies and alerted authorities. Police radio described the situation using the term “Signal 7,” the code for a deceased person, as reported by the New York Post.

JetBlue confirmed that the individuals were male but added that their identities remain unknown. The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies to determine the cause of death.

Deadly Conditions in the Sky

The JetBlue plane had a busy flight schedule that day, originating from Kingston, Jamaica, early Monday morning. It traveled to JFK, then to Salt Lake City, Utah, before returning to JFK and finally landing in Fort Lauderdale. Investigators suspect the men entered the wheel well in Jamaica, enduring brutal freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen during multiple high-altitude flights.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that the landing gear compartment is often used by stowaways who underestimate the harsh conditions. Approximately 80% of people who attempt to travel in the wheel well or other external compartment of an airplane die.

Security Breaches Raise Alarms for Airlines

This incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the aviation industry. Former Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo noted that unauthorized access to airport property poses a significant threat, not only to stowaways but also to the safety of passengers and crew.

“This keeps happening,” Schiavo told CNN, referencing several recent stowaway incidents. In one case, a stowaway was found on a Delta^® flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and in another, a woman managed to actually board a flight from JFK to Paris without a ticket.

The Broader Implications

The FAA, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and local authorities are collaborating to investigate the circumstances surrounding this latest tragedy. JetBlue has pledged to work closely with officials, stating, “This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred,” according to CNN.

While stowaway attempts are often driven by desperation, they underscore the need for stricter airport security measures to prevent unauthorized access. As the investigation continues, aviation experts warn that such breaches could lead to more significant safety concerns in the future.

References: Badly decomposed bodies found in plane’s wheel well after Jet Blue flight from JFK | 2 bodies found in the wheel well of a JetBlue plane in Fort Lauderdale, airline says