Stowaway Found Dead in American Airlines Landing Gear in Charlotte

(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) A stowaway was found dead inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight that arrived in Charlotte from Europe on Sunday morning, September 28, 2025. Maintenance staff discovered the body during routine checks at Charlotte Douglas International Airport shortly after 9 a.m., and airport police pronounced the individual dead at the scene.

As of September 29, 2025, investigators have not identified the person, and officials have not disclosed which European city the flight departed from. American Airlines confirmed the incident and said it is working with law enforcement. The airport said it is “deeply saddened,” adding that flights and ground operations continue as normal.

The death has raised fresh questions about how someone reached the aircraft’s wheel well and the deadly risks people face when they try to travel hidden in a plane’s landing gear.

Investigation and official response

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Search team are leading the case, with support from airport operations and medical examiners. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. CMPD said its Public Affairs Office will share more details when available.

Anyone with information that could help identify the stowaway or explain how the person entered the aircraft is asked to contact the CMPD Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477 or leave an anonymous tip through Charlotte Crime Stoppers.

Airport staff found the body during normal post-flight checks, a step that often reveals damage or mechanical issues—and in rare, tragic cases like this, a person in the wheel-well cavity. Investigators are reviewing:

• Airline maintenance logs
• Aircraft access points
• Any available video that might show how and where the person reached the plane before departure

Because the flight originated in Europe, the case will likely involve cooperation with authorities abroad to trace the aircraft’s earlier locations and movements before it landed in Charlotte.

A spokesperson for American Airlines said the company is cooperating fully. The airline did not release the aircraft tail number or the specific route, citing the active investigation. Airport officials said passengers and crew were not in danger and that operations remained stable after the discovery.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, air carriers typically work closely with local police, aviation safety teams, and medical examiners in such cases to secure the aircraft, support identification efforts, and prepare required reports.

Anyone with tips or relevant information is urged to contact CMPD’s Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477 or submit an anonymous tip through Charlotte Crime Stoppers.

Deadly risks of wheel-well travel

Hiding in a plane’s landing gear is often fatal. The wheel well is not pressurized, and temperatures at cruising altitude can fall to around -80°F (-62°C). There is also very little oxygen at those heights, which can cause:

• Loss of consciousness
• Severe hypothermia
• Death

On long flights, survival is highly unlikely. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that more than 76% of stowaway attempts end in death. The combination of cold, low oxygen, and moving parts makes the area one of the most dangerous places on an aircraft.

Although extremely rare, some people have survived short flights in wheel wells—usually when the aircraft does not climb as high or does not remain at altitude for long. Officials noted a recent case of a 13-year-old Afghan boy found alive in India after a short flight from Kabul last week. These cases are exceptions; most attempts on long-haul routes end in tragedy, as appears to have happened in Charlotte.

Recent similar incidents and security reviews

Sunday’s death follows a series of similar incidents in recent months:

• Earlier this year, two Dominican teenagers were found dead in the landing gear of a JetBlue aircraft in Florida.
• Last December, a stowaway was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight in Maui.
• A rare survival case occurred in India last week (the Afghan boy mentioned above).

Each discovery typically triggers a careful review by police, airport security teams, and aviation safety officials to check for security gaps and determine whether airport access points need tighter control.

Officials in Charlotte did not say whether they believe the person boarded the aircraft at the European departure point or during a prior stop. Without public details on the route, authorities have cautioned against drawing conclusions. The autopsy will help answer questions about time and cause of death, which could guide where investigators focus their efforts.

Impact on airport staff and community

For people who work in and around airports, these cases create deep sadness and stress. Maintenance crews and first responders face distressing scenes, and airline staff feel the emotional weight when someone risks everything inside a landing gear compartment.

Community leaders often point to the human pressures—conflict, fear, family separation, and lack of options—that push people to take such extreme steps, even when survival odds are slim.

Airports and carriers use standard practices to reduce the chance of wheel-well entries, including:

• Perimeter patrols
• ID checks
• Secure zones on the airfield

After an event like Sunday’s, airports commonly review those steps with local and federal partners and share lessons with other hubs. Charlotte Douglas International Airport said it is supporting the investigation and remains focused on safety across the airfield.

Key confirmed details

What authorities are asking and next steps

Officials asked for patience as the investigation continues. They urged anyone with even small details—names, recent travel, or missing persons concerns tied to flights from Europe arriving Sunday morning—to step forward.

CMPD’s request for tips remains active. Methods to share information:

1. Call CMPD Homicide Unit: 704-432-8477
2. Leave an anonymous tip: Charlotte Crime Stoppers
3. If you suspect a missing family member may match this case, file a report with local police and provide identifying details to investigators and medical examiners

CMPD maintains current contact channels, case updates, and unit details on its official website at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The Public Affairs Office will release updates as investigators confirm facts.

American Airlines, the airport, and CMPD say they will share updates when they can. For now, the focus remains on identifying the person found in the landing gear in Charlotte and on learning how this tragedy happened.

This case is a stark reminder that wheel-well travel is a deadly path, not a solution. Authorities emphasize that education, prevention, and secure airport perimeters remain the strongest tools to stop similar tragedies.