A person was found dead in the wheel well of a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 after it landed in Maui, Hawaii, on Christmas Eve. United Airlines confirmed that the body was discovered in the landing-gear compartment of the aircraft, which is accessible only from the outside. The plane, Flight 202, had taken off from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday, December 24, at 9:49 am and arrived at Kahului Airport around 2:12 pm.
Sources told Hawaii News Now that the deceased was a male, though authorities have not yet provided details on how or when the person accessed the wheel well. The airline stated that it is working with law enforcement on the investigation.
The Maui Police Department has confirmed that they are investigating the discovery of the body, but no further details have been released. Despite the incident, operations at the airport continued as usual.
The wheel well, located under the plane and housing the retractable landing gear, is notoriously dangerous. The Federal Aviation Administration has noted that surviving in such a compartment is rare due to low oxygen levels and extreme temperatures at high altitudes. Similar cases have been reported in the past.
