Probable stowaway. Others have tried hitching a ride in the same way with similar results.
So, I take it the wells on the a340 are pressurized?
No, they are not.
Bodies falling out of wheel wells is unfortunately a not uncommon phenomenon on flights that originate from Africa.Ok. I thought that would be why someone would try that spot. Obviously individuals with no knowledge of atmosphere and aerospace.
Ok. I thought that would be why someone would try that spot. Obviously individuals with no knowledge of atmosphere and aerospace.
My guess is the person died when the the gear came up.
It depends on the plane and where the person stowed themselves. Some wheel wells have plenty of space for a person to fit. IIRC there was once a survivor on a flight from Port au Prince to Miami.
Looks like Wikipedia got some info from the BBC which got it from the FAA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowaway
"From 1947 until September 2012, there were 96 known stowaway attempts worldwide in wheel wells of 85 separate flights, which resulted in 73 deaths with only 23 survivors.[2]"
[2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19562101
Panama City is the one I was thinking of.
I presume number two in table 1 of this FAA document:
"Survival at High Altitudes: Wheel-Well Passengers"
http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/1990s/media/AM96-25.pdf
"As my last official act, let me pass the word that stowing away in a wheelwell of an airliner is a really bad idea. Find another way."Bodies falling out of wheel wells is unfortunately a not uncommon phenomenon on flights that originate from Africa.
The people that try it have no idea what us really involved and the word doesn't seem to make it back to the others that it doesn't work.