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| Majority of airplane stowaways unlikely to survive harsh conditions, FAA says | Majority of airplane stowaways unlikely to survive harsh conditions, FAA says |
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| An inquest in London this week determined that a young man found dead on a suburban street was likely a stowaway who died falling from an airplane descending into Heathrow airport. While unusual, the circumstances of the fatality are not unheard of – the body of another man was found in a plane two weeks before this incident. | An inquest in London this week determined that a young man found dead on a suburban street was likely a stowaway who died falling from an airplane descending into Heathrow airport. While unusual, the circumstances of the fatality are not unheard of – the body of another man was found in a plane two weeks before this incident. |
| It's unclear how many people have attempted to stow away in airplanes, but data shows that those who do are unlikely to survive. | It's unclear how many people have attempted to stow away in airplanes, but data shows that those who do are unlikely to survive. |
| US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) spokesman Roland Herwig said in an email that the agency does not have a denominator for how many stowaways there are because it only has data for stowaways that are found living or dead. "It is possible that some fall into water or get away successfully," Herwig said. "Of the ones we find out about, 80% have died." | US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) spokesman Roland Herwig said in an email that the agency does not have a denominator for how many stowaways there are because it only has data for stowaways that are found living or dead. "It is possible that some fall into water or get away successfully," Herwig said. "Of the ones we find out about, 80% have died." |
| Since the wheel wells of an airplane aren't equipped for passengers, they lack the oxygen, heating and pressurization mechanisms that keep ticketed passengers safe. This means stowaways face temperatures that can drop below -55C and oxygen deprivation in the unpressurized compartment. | Since the wheel wells of an airplane aren't equipped for passengers, they lack the oxygen, heating and pressurization mechanisms that keep ticketed passengers safe. This means stowaways face temperatures that can drop below -55C and oxygen deprivation in the unpressurized compartment. |
| These conditions cause many stowaways to succumb to conditions including hypothermia and hypoxia. Stowaways also have a high likelihood of being crushed by an airplane's wheels when they are retracted after takeoff. | These conditions cause many stowaways to succumb to conditions including hypothermia and hypoxia. Stowaways also have a high likelihood of being crushed by an airplane's wheels when they are retracted after takeoff. |
| Those who survive the flight have are likely unconscious or severely weakened when the compartment doors reopen on landing, increasing the likelihood of falling. | Those who survive the flight have are likely unconscious or severely weakened when the compartment doors reopen on landing, increasing the likelihood of falling. |
| Herwig said people are usually motivated to stow away in the hope of getting a better life and that poor countries have yielded the most stowaways. | Herwig said people are usually motivated to stow away in the hope of getting a better life and that poor countries have yielded the most stowaways. |
| This week's inquest showed that 26-year-old Jose Matada, who was flying from Angola, had a text-message conversation with a former employer about Matada "traveling to Europe for a better life". Detective sergeant Jeremy Allsup, who led the Metropolitan police investigation, said there was no reason to believe Matada's former employer knew about the plans. | This week's inquest showed that 26-year-old Jose Matada, who was flying from Angola, had a text-message conversation with a former employer about Matada "traveling to Europe for a better life". Detective sergeant Jeremy Allsup, who led the Metropolitan police investigation, said there was no reason to believe Matada's former employer knew about the plans. |
| Forensic pathologist Robert Chapman said in the inquest that Matada seemed to have survived most of the 12-hour flight but the low oxygen levels and temperature would have left him unconscious. "In my view he was either very close to the point of death or, indeed, dead when he struck the ground," Chapman said. | Forensic pathologist Robert Chapman said in the inquest that Matada seemed to have survived most of the 12-hour flight but the low oxygen levels and temperature would have left him unconscious. "In my view he was either very close to the point of death or, indeed, dead when he struck the ground," Chapman said. |
| FAA data published by the BBC in September 2012 shows that since 1947, 96 wheel-well stowaways have attempted to board 85 flights. The FAA said at the time it was operating under the assumption that Matada was a stowaway. Of the 96 stowaways identified by the FAA, 73 died. | FAA data published by the BBC in September 2012 shows that since 1947, 96 wheel-well stowaways have attempted to board 85 flights. The FAA said at the time it was operating under the assumption that Matada was a stowaway. Of the 96 stowaways identified by the FAA, 73 died. |
| That includes a North Carolina 16-year-old who died after hiding in the wheel well on a plane heading to Boston Logan International airport in 2010. | That includes a North Carolina 16-year-old who died after hiding in the wheel well on a plane heading to Boston Logan International airport in 2010. |
| A Romanian 20-year-old survived a 97-minute flight from Vienna to Heathrow after crawling "under the wire" of the Vienna airport's fence. The plane was flying "well below 10,000 meters" because of bad weather and experts said the stowaway benefitted from the atypical circumstances. | A Romanian 20-year-old survived a 97-minute flight from Vienna to Heathrow after crawling "under the wire" of the Vienna airport's fence. The plane was flying "well below 10,000 meters" because of bad weather and experts said the stowaway benefitted from the atypical circumstances. |
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