A dead person suspected to be a stowaway has been reported found in the wheel well of a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777 (registered PH-BQM) from Lagos, Nigeria.
The incident, which happened on Monday, has raised questions regarding how and when the man was able to climb into the aircraft.
An investigation has reportedly been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to reports, a spokesperson of the Royal Dutch Marechaussee said stowaways in wheel wells of aircraft face extreme temperatures that can drop to as low as minus 50 degrees during longer flights. This makes survival virtually impossible, and hypothermia is likely to be a contributing factor in this case.
He said: “Sometimes they survive, but most of the time it goes wrong given the sharp drop in temperature. On longer flights, temperatures can go down to minus fifty degrees, impossible to survive.”
Despite the risks, some stowaways still attempt to use this method to travel without proper documentation or authorisation, often seeking a better life or escaping difficult situations in their home countries.
The discovery of the dead stowaway underscores the need for increased security measures and thorough inspections of aircraft before departure, to prevent such incidents from recurring. Airlines and aviation authorities regularly review and update their security protocols to ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew onboard.