Grim Discovery: Two Bodies in JetBlue Landing Gear at Fort Lauderdale

Last Monday, two bodies were discovered in a landing gear compartment of a JetBlue plane during a routine post-flight inspection. The plane departed Kennedy Airport on January 6 at 7:49 pm and landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at 11:10 pm. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mystery Around the Landing Gear

A routine post-flight inspection at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport led to the grim discovery of two bodies in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue plane. The flight departed from Kennedy Airport on January 6 at 7:49 pm and landed safely at 11:10 pm. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has yet to clarify how the individuals accessed this area, leaving many questions unanswered.

Paramedics pronounced the two individuals dead at the scene. Carey Codd, a public information officer with the sheriff’s office, announced they would run autopsies on the two unidentified men to determine the cause of death. chalabalaphotos

Deadly Risks of Stowing Away in Plane Landing Gears

Stowing away in an airplane's landing gear is a deadly gamble. Designed to secure safe takeoffs and landings, these compartments become perilous for humans due to the extreme conditions they present.
At cruising altitude, temperatures can plummet to -50 degrees Celsius, leading to hypothermia. Moreover, the absence of oxygen in these unpressurized areas can cause suffocation. The operation of the landing gear itself poses a severe risk; stowaways can be either crushed by the retracting or extending mechanisms or fall to their death when the gear opens. Allan Jung/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK

From Flight Delays to Fatal Discoveries

Less than a week before the incident, the U.S. Department of Transportation fined Jetblue $2 million for “chronic flight delays.” Half of the proceeds will go toward affected JetBlue customers and toward any future disruptions caused by JetBlue within the next year.

The outcome of the lawsuit against JetBlue for chronic flight delays was announced just days before the tragic discovery of two individuals in the plane's landing gear compartment. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

New Scrutiny After Tragic Landing Gear Find

Jetblue and other airliners will face more scrutiny with chronic flight delays. The recent incident should spark additional focus on this issue. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released the following statement when announcing the $2 million penalty.

“Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers. Today's action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality. The department will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling practices in order to protect healthy competition and ensure passengers are treated fairly.” Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Labor Shortages Continue to Drag the Airline Industry

Airlines and airports have endured labor shortages, with the workforce down by more than 20% from pre-pandemic levels. Travel demands have recovered, but workforces haven’t caught up.

The shortages affect all types of jobs, including pilots, cabin crew, ground staff, and technicians. Rising demand for travel and reduced labor have enabled more delays and cancellations. Labor strikes and layoffs have only made delays and cancellations worse. Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK