2 Bodies Believed to be of Jamaicans Found in Plane’s Landing Gear Compartment in Florida

Authorities are investigating the tragic discovery of two deceased males in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue Airways plane at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The grim find was made during a routine inspection late Monday night after the aircraft landed.

JetBlue confirmed the discovery in a statement, describing the incident as “heartbreaking” and pledging cooperation with investigators. The airline added that the aircraft had most recently operated as Flight 1801 from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The plane’s journey began earlier in Kingston, Jamaica, before traveling to several destinations, including JFK, Salt Lake City, and finally Fort Lauderdale.

Details surrounding how the men accessed the aircraft remain unclear. The Broward Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Medical Examiner’s Office are leading the investigation. Autopsies will be performed to determine the cause of death.

The men’s identities are yet to be confirmed, but reports from The Jamaica Observer suggest they may be Jamaican nationals. Jamaica’s Foreign Minister Kamina Smith acknowledged the distressing reports but emphasized that the matter is still under investigation.

Experts note the severe risks of stowing away in an aircraft’s wheel well, which is neither pressurized nor heated. With temperatures at cruising altitudes of 38,000 feet plummeting well below freezing, survival is nearly impossible.

This incident highlights potential security lapses. “It’s clearly a security breach… that should never happen,” remarked JetBlue passenger Steve Daoust. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including one during the holidays when a body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight in Hawaii.