Discovery Made on Flight from Morocco
Emergency services were called to Gatwick Airport on Tuesday morning after the body of a man was discovered in the landing gear of an aircraft. The Air Arabia flight had arrived from Tangier, Morocco, at approximately 11:45 BST.
Authorities Launch Inquiry
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport confirmed the incident, stating that airport teams are providing support to both the police and HM Coroner in their ongoing investigations. Sussex Police have initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the discovery. Air Arabia has been approached for comment regarding the matter.
"A body was found and our teams subsequently supported Sussex Police and the coroner. Our thoughts are with everyone affected," a spokesperson for the West Sussex airport stated.
Previous Similar Incidents
This incident is not isolated, as similar cases have been reported at UK airports. In December 2022, a man's body was located in the undercarriage of a TUI flight at Gatwick, which had originated from Banjul, The Gambia. The journey from The Gambia to the UK typically spans about 2,760 miles (4,444 km) and takes approximately six and a half hours.
Other instances of stowaways being found deceased in the UK include the case of Mohammed Ayaz, 21, from Pakistan, whose body was discovered near Heathrow Airport in 2001. Four years prior to that, another individual fell from a plane destined for Heathrow onto a nearby gasworks.