Two Bodies Found in JetBlue Aircraft Wheel Well After Flight from New York

On January 6, two bodies were found on a JetBlue aircraft’s wheel well after completing a direct flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). The discovery occurred during a routine maintenance inspection of the Airbus A320 of JetBlue flight B6 1801.

The flight had departed from JFK, initially scheduled to leave at 19:30 but delayed to 20:20. It landed at FLL at 23:03, 21 minutes behind its expected arrival time of 22:42. The identities of the deceased individuals are still under investigation, and authorities are working to understand the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

A gate technician at Fort Lauderdale noticed two males in the aircraft’s landing gear area. Both were unresponsive, and it was confirmed that they were deceased. The Broward County Medical Examiner is now conducting autopsies to determine the cause of death. Initial reports indicate that the bodies were already in an advanced state of decomposition.

Despite the tragic discovery, airport operations at FLL continued without disruption. However, the affected JetBlue aircraft remains grounded at the airport. Flight data confirms that the aircraft has been returned to the airline for further inspection.

In response to the incident, JetBlue issued the following statement:

“This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred.”

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates JFK, has not provided any comments on the matter. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is not involved in the investigation, as the incident does not appear to be linked to the flight crew or operational factors.

Unfortunately, incidents involving individuals attempting to stow away in aircraft wheel wells are not uncommon. Just weeks before this incident, a similar case occurred when a body was discovered in the wheel bay of a United Airlines flight bound for Maui.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), approximately 80% of individuals who attempt to hide in an aircraft’s wheel well or external components die during the flight. This high fatality rate is attributed to the lack of space, insufficient oxygen, and freezing temperatures encountered at cruising altitudes.

• Featured Image by JBabinski380

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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