Wheel-well stowaway

Uncommon card · No. 124302

Wheel-well stowaways are individuals who attempt to covertly travel in the landing gear compartment – also known as the wheel well, wheel bay, or undercarriage – of an aircraft. Between 1947 and June 2015, a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) researcher had documented 113 such attempts on 101 flights. These 113 people were all male and predominantly under age 30. There were 86 deaths, a 76 percent fatality rate, with many unidentified decedents. A further 26 incidents, identified since June 2015, are listed here. There may be additional undocumented cases of wheel-well stowaways. Wheel-well stowaways face considerable risk of death during all phases of flight. Some have been unable to remain in the well during takeoff and landing and have fallen to their death. Immediately after takeoff, the landing gear retracts into the wheel wells, with the potential to crush the stowaway. If the stowaway is able to avoid physical injury, they still face hypothermia and hypoxia risks at the extremely...

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