Two Bodies Found in JetBlue Plane’s Landing Gear at Fort Lauderdale Airport
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Two bodies were discovered Monday evening in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue Airways plane during a routine post-flight maintenance inspection at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the airline confirmed Tuesday.
The Airbus A320 had departed New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 7:49 p.m., reaching its destination in Fort Lauderdale after a three-hour and 21-minute flight, according to FlightAware data.
Upon discovery, paramedics were called to the scene and pronounced both individuals deceased. Homicide and crime scene units from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched, though a spokesperson emphasized that this is standard procedure for unattended deaths and not indicative of a homicide investigation.
“At this time, the identities of the individuals and the circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation,” JetBlue said in a statement. “This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred.”
Investigating a Security Breach
The incident raises critical questions about airport security. Aviation security expert Jeff Price explained that stowaways typically exploit vulnerabilities in less monitored areas, such as employee access points and emergency exits. These areas often bypass the rigorous passenger security screening process.
“While airports have robust systems, they are not infallible,” Price said. “The ramp area where planes are serviced is a shared responsibility between the airport operator and the airline.”
Authorities are now reviewing CCTV footage, door alarm notifications, and other security records to determine how the individuals gained access. Complicating the investigation, the plane had completed three other flights on Monday, including routes from Jamaica, Utah, and New York.
A Recurring Concern
This tragedy is the latest in a series of stowaway incidents that highlight ongoing security vulnerabilities in aviation. In December 2023, a body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui. Similar cases have been reported globally, including a survivor found in the undercarriage of a flight from Algeria to France.
Stowing away in an airplane’s wheel well is extraordinarily dangerous. Most stowaways do not survive due to extreme conditions, including hypoxia and hypothermia at high altitudes. However, rare cases of survival underscore the complexity of securing airport perimeters against such attempts.
A Collaborative Investigation
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), JetBlue, and local authorities to investigate the breach. The process could take weeks or months, as investigators attempt to identify gaps in the airport’s security systems.
“Before assigning blame, it’s essential to understand how the system was bypassed,” Price said. “This could involve multiple points of vulnerability, from catering vendors to maintenance facilities.”
The discovery has reignited concerns over airport security protocols, with calls for more stringent measures to prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas.
As authorities piece together how this tragedy occurred, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks individuals take to stow away on flights and the challenges aviation faces in maintaining airtight security.
