Stowaway Found Dead in American Airlines Plane After Transatlantic Flight

A stowaway was discovered deceased in the landing gear of an American Airlines Boeing 777, following its flight from Europe to Charlotte, North Carolina. The tragic find occurred on September 28, 2025, two days after the aircraft landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) from Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The stowaway’s body was located during routine maintenance checks on the aircraft, registered as N794AN, which is a Boeing 777-200ER that has been in service for 24 years. Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft’s last known journey included a route from Frankfurt to Charlotte on September 26, 2025. Detectives from the Homicide Unit responded promptly to the scene, while Crime Scene Search officers collected evidence to assist in the ongoing investigation.

While details about the stowaway’s identity remain scarce, preliminary reports suggest that the individual may have originated from El Salvador, as one of the aircraft’s recent flights included a stop in that Central American nation. The last five flights recorded for the aircraft were from San Salvador (SAL) to Dallas (DFW), Dallas to Madrid (MAD), Madrid to Charlotte, and back to Frankfurt before returning to Charlotte.

Survival Odds for Stowaways

The survival rate for individuals attempting to travel as stowaways is alarmingly low. Those who choose to hide in the landing gear risk exposure to extreme temperatures, which can plummet to between -50°C and -63°C during flight. Such conditions can lead to hypothermia, a critical medical emergency that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Additionally, the lack of oxygen at cruising altitudes, typically between 35,000 and 40,000 feet, poses a severe risk of asphyxiation.

Mountaineers climbing high altitudes must carry supplemental oxygen, highlighting the perilous nature of stowing away in aircraft. Furthermore, stowaways face the danger of falling from the plane’s wheel well, as landing gear is deployed at approximately 1,500 feet, providing little warning before descent.

Security Concerns Highlighted

The rise in stowaway incidents raises significant questions about aviation security. While stringent measures are implemented to protect passengers and crew from various threats, the fact that an individual could access an aircraft’s landing gear underscores existing vulnerabilities within airport security protocols.

According to a report by the BBC, inadequate fencing and surveillance blind spots are often exploited by stowaways. Although airlines do not directly manage airport security, they carry the reputational and financial repercussions of such incidents.

As the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department continues its investigation, the focus remains on understanding how the stowaway managed to conceal themselves within the aircraft and what measures can be implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the lengths individuals may go to seek a better life and the inherent risks involved in such desperate measures.