Dead Body in LG Bay - BA 747
... As others have pointed out, the event of an individual hiding in a wheel well is not uncommon. But the event of a security van actually apparently seeing someone do this is unique as far as I know.
It was only a later speculation (when they couldn't find the intruder) followed by a much later confirmation after the plane landed.
Let's stick to facts before judgements
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....IF the BA crew was indeed informed that an unknown person had apparently approached the aircraft on foot whilst holding on the taxiway, then I believe that they should have taken this far more seriously.....
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That's just about where I put the gear down. Should be able to match up an arrival with the timing...
Assuming that we're talking about a wide-body, long-haul arrival, then even if we restrict it to flights originating from Africa there are 3 or 4 to choose from, all of which arrived some time before the reported discovery of the body at 07:55.
We know exactly when the bang was heard
According to the linked article, that would rather depend on whether Annie Williams remembers what time she opened her curtains.
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It seems odd to me that no bang was heard, and that the body lay there long enough to defrost, as one report says 'there was a lot of blood'.
I am no forenisc expert, but logic tells me that either this unfortunate person had not frozen, so was not dropped from a longhaul flight, or he defrosted after landing on the car roof, whch implies he was there a fair while.
So the hold doors are opened in flight? Some expert.
I am no forenisc expert, but logic tells me that either this unfortunate person had not frozen, so was not dropped from a longhaul flight, or he defrosted after landing on the car roof, whch implies he was there a fair while.
Aviation expert believes he froze to death; it appears body fell out of hold
Last edited by Tableview; 10th Sep 2012 at 15:48.
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Glad no innocent passers by were hurt.
There have been cases in HK over the years where innocent pedestrians get clobbered by falling people.
However whilst not intending to be harsh or callous, this appears to be natural selection at its finest.
There have been cases in HK over the years where innocent pedestrians get clobbered by falling people.
However whilst not intending to be harsh or callous, this appears to be natural selection at its finest.
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I am no forenisc expert, but logic tells me that either this unfortunate person had not frozen, so was not dropped from a longhaul flight, or he defrosted after landing on the car roof, whch implies he was there a fair while.
Why do people do this? Because it works. Some have survived. And you are sure to get a hearing in front of whomever are the powers-that-be. That's probably better than living in a sewer/slum at the end of a runway. A well-prepared person - thermal clothing, supplemental oxygen, restraint system, knowledge of the landing gear bays - could easily pull it off.
Last edited by deSitter; 11th Sep 2012 at 06:46.
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I have, and continue to travel in many 3rd world countries, and shanty towns around airports are very common. Also I have been on aircraft escorted at night many times, though this maybe more security related eg Nairobi. The comment about education, and as to why they think they can get away with doing this may well be Hollywood inspired. However having recently had a conversation with a guy cooking an omlette for me in Tanzania, which went along the lines of that he had been told that when in Nairobi it was possible to see the lights of London in the northern sky, hence he thought London was only a weeks days drive away, you start to understand the problem. Geography not his strong point, but food was good before you all ask.
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I used to sometimes go picnicking at Dukes Meadows, it's just under the approach path for 27R, about the same distance as Mortlake. Will definitely be taking that of the agenda after reading this story.
Assuming that we're talking about a wide-body, long-haul arrival, then even if we restrict it to flights originating from Africa there are 3 or 4 to choose from, all of which arrived some time before the reported discovery of the body at 07:55.
While that doesn't necessarily imply that's where the flight originated, BAW76 from Luanda landed at 07:44 last Sunday morning.
BBC News - Heathrow flight death man 'possibly Angolan'
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This item gives a lot more details. An FAA study shows at least 96 people have tried it since 1947, 23 of them have survived.
BBC News - How often do plane stowaways fall from the sky?
BBC News - How often do plane stowaways fall from the sky?
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A well-prepared person - thermal clothing, supplemental oxygen, restraint system, knowledge of the landing gear bays - could easily pull it off.
Last edited by Dg800; 4th Oct 2012 at 10:28.
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I am not at all sure that the cold is killing these people. For those of you with brake temperature gauges, pay attention to them in flight... Some of them are quite warm, even after a LONG time at altitude. I suspect it has to do with the proximity of all the hydraulic lines and pumps and whatnot that tends to populate the main gear wells.
Prolonged exposure above 30,000 feet without supplemental o2 is guaranteed fatal... and most of these long haul jets are well above 35000 feet by the time its over. However, interestingly I see temps of 45-50 degree C frequently on the brake temp gauges long into cruise flight. I think it actually might be rather hot in the main gear wells.
If you climb into the nose gear however, I think that would reside somewhere between TAT and SAT (I would guess -30 degrees C or so) and even for a relatively short flight at a lower altitude like 25000 feet, you would have a reduced ability to shiver to stay warm (not enough O2 to do the vigorous exercise that is shivering is) so you would be susceptable to hypothermia much quicker than normal.
Cheers
Wino
Prolonged exposure above 30,000 feet without supplemental o2 is guaranteed fatal... and most of these long haul jets are well above 35000 feet by the time its over. However, interestingly I see temps of 45-50 degree C frequently on the brake temp gauges long into cruise flight. I think it actually might be rather hot in the main gear wells.
If you climb into the nose gear however, I think that would reside somewhere between TAT and SAT (I would guess -30 degrees C or so) and even for a relatively short flight at a lower altitude like 25000 feet, you would have a reduced ability to shiver to stay warm (not enough O2 to do the vigorous exercise that is shivering is) so you would be susceptable to hypothermia much quicker than normal.
Cheers
Wino
