Body Discovered in Wheel Well of United Airlines Flight in Maui

The unidentified body was found in the landing gear compartment of a plane arriving from Chicago, prompting an active investigation.

The body was discovered in the wheel well of United Airlines Flight 202, which landed at Kahului Airport in Maui on December 24, 2024, after departing from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
The wheel well, located in the landing gear compartment of the Boeing 787-10 aircraft, is only accessible from outside the plane, and it remains unclear how or when the individual gained access.
United Airlines and the Police Department are cooperating on an active investigation, but the deceased person has not yet been identified, and further details are unavailable at this time.
Stowaways in wheel wells face extreme conditions during flights, including low oxygen levels and temperatures as cold as minus 75 degrees Fahrenheit, making survival rare.
The incident has raised questions about airport security, though operations at Kahului Airport and other flights were not disrupted following the discovery.