Bodies Discovered After a Three-Hour Flight from JFK to FLL

Two male bodies were found in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue Airbus A320 on Monday, January 6. They were discovered at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) during routine post-flight maintenance.

The flight, JBU1801, departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at around 7:49 pm. Just over three hours later, it landed in Fort Lauderdale and taxied to its gate as normal. The aircraft had previously operated in Kingston, Jamaica, as well as Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier that day. It remains unclear when the two entered the wheel well.

The A320 was taken into a routine post-flight maintenance inspection at FLL. At around 11:30 pm, just 20 minutes after the aircraft arrived, deputies from the Airport District were dispatched to the jet. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue was also called and pronounced both individuals dead.

Broward’s Homicide and Crime Scene units are actively investigating the case, but it is unlikely that any foul play was involved. Similar events have occurred several times in the past, the most recent being less than a month ago when a woman was found dead in the wheel well of a United Airlines aircraft in Maui.

The two individuals were most likely killed by the temperature and air pressure. The JetBlue aircraft was maintaining an altitude of about 36,000 feet during its flight, which is only doable for passengers due to cabin heat and pressurization. The men likely suffered through temperatures far below freezing and an extreme lack of oxygen in the landing gear compartment.

The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office has been assigned to conduct autopsies on the two people. With the identities of the bodies still unknown, JetBlue is also hoping to get some answers.

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

FMI: www.jetblue.com