Fatal Discovery: Body Found in American Airlines Plane Wheel Well After Frankfurt-Charlotte Flight

Sep 29, 2025 03:16 pm CST

A deceased stowaway was discovered in the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines Boeing 777 at Charlotte Douglas International Airport during routine maintenance, two days after arriving from Frankfurt. The incident highlights the extreme dangers of wheel well stowaways, with FAA data showing over 77% fatality rates due to freezing temperatures and oxygen deprivation at high altitudes.