Thursday, December 26, 2024 On December 24, 2024, a chilling discovery was made at Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui. The lifeless body of an unidentified individual was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines Boeing 787-10. The aircraft had just completed its flight from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) as Flight UA202.
This heartbreaking incident sheds light on the extreme risks some are willing to take in search of a better life and raises pressing questions about airport security. A Harrowing Mystery Unfolds The discovery has prompted an investigation by the Maui Police Department, with United Airlines pledging full cooperation. Authorities are piecing together how the stowaway managed to access the restricted wheel well area at Chicago O’Hare, one of the busiest and most secure airports in the world.
It’s a haunting reminder that behind security breaches often lies a human story—one of desperation, hope, and unimaginable risk. The Deadly Gamble of Stowing Away For those who choose to hide in the wheel wells of airplanes, the odds of survival are almost nonexistent. Temperatures in these compartments can plunge to -75°F as the plane ascends, while oxygen levels drop dangerously low.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that over 77% of stowaways perish during their journey. In addition to the brutal cold, the retraction of the landing gear poses an immediate risk of fatal crushing injuries. These grim statistics underline the desperation t.