Discovery of the Body
Hawaiian authorities have launched an investigation after a body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that had flown from Chicago to Maui on Christmas Eve. The grim discovery was made upon the plane’s arrival at Kahului Airport in Maui on Tuesday. According to United Airlines, the body was found in one of the main landing gear compartments of the aircraft, which had landed safely in Hawaii.
Details of the Flight
The United Airlines flight, UA202, which departed from Chicago, was a Boeing 787-10 aircraft. The flight landed in Maui Tuesday afternoon, arriving on time without any delays. According to flight tracking website FlightAware.com, the flight followed its normal schedule. However, what seemed like a routine arrival turned tragic when the body was uncovered. The airline confirmed the findings in a statement to CNN, providing details on the location of the body in the wheel well.
Investigation and Authorities’ Response
Upon learning of the discovery, local authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the body’s presence in the wheel well. The investigation will focus on how the person managed to board the aircraft and gain access to the wheel well, which is a dangerous and highly restricted area. United Airlines has not released further information about the identity of the deceased, and it remains unclear how long the individual had been in the compartment before the plane reached Maui.
Officials in both the airline and local government are working together to piece together the details of this tragic incident. It serves as a reminder of the severe risks involved in stowing away on an aircraft, as the conditions in the wheel well are incredibly hazardous, with extreme cold and lack of oxygen.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking to determine the circumstances leading to the discovery of the body and whether it involved any criminal activity.
