Authorities at Charlotte Douglas International Airport launched an investigation after maintenance crews found a dead body inside American Airlines landing gear on Sunday, 28 September 2025.
Stowaway dead body found inside American Airlines landing gear
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the body was discovered inside one of the main landing gear compartments while the aircraft was being serviced after its arrival from Europe. Airport police officers pronounced the individual dead at the scene.
CMPD’s Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Search teams were dispatched to investigate. Detectives collected evidence while paramedics and operations officials secured the site. The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.
In a statement to USA Today, American Airlines confirmed that it is cooperating fully with investigators. A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas International Airport added:
“We are deeply saddened by this news and will support the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s investigation as needed.”
Despite the shocking discovery, airport operations continued as normal.
Experts note that stowing away in the landing gear of an aircraft is almost always fatal. These compartments are unpressurised, meaning they lack oxygen, and temperatures can plummet to minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62 degrees Celsius) at high altitudes.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has previously estimated that more than three out of four stowaway attempts end in death.
The American Airlines incident comes just days after a tragedy aboard a South African flight.
On Monday, 22 September 2025, FlySafair confirmed a passenger had died mid-air aboard flight FA417 from Durban to Johannesburg.
FlySafair’s chief marketing officer, Kirby Gordon, explained that medical staff at King Shaka International Airport had cleared the passenger to fly, but his condition deteriorated during the flight.
Despite efforts by crew and medical professionals on board, the passenger died before landing.
The airline has since opened counselling services to assist passengers and staff who witnessed the traumatic event.