Authorities at London Gatwick Airport discovered the body of a man in the landing gear compartment of an Air Arabia flight on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2026. The aircraft had just arrived from Tangier, Morocco, according to BBC News.
The flight, operated by the low-cost carrier Air Arabia, landed safely at Gatwick before the discovery was made. Emergency services were called to the scene, and the area was cordoned off for investigation.
Police have not yet released the identity of the deceased. An investigation is underway to determine how the individual gained access to the landing gear and the cause of death. Such incidents are often linked to stowaways attempting to travel undetected, which carries extreme risks due to lack of oxygen and freezing temperatures at high altitude.
Air Arabia has not issued a public statement as of June 19, 2026. Gatwick Airport operations were not significantly disrupted, the airport confirmed.