Stowaway died of cold and lack of oxygen in Gatwick landing gear
An inquest opening heard an unidentified man found on an Air Arabia flight from Tangiers died from extreme conditions.
Incident → evidence → outcomeAn unidentified man died from extreme cold and lack of oxygen after being found in the landing gear of a plane at Gatwick Airport. The man was discovered on an Air Arabia aircraft that had arrived from Tangiers, Morocco.
Inquest Opening
West Sussex Brighton and Hove Area Coroner Joseph Turner opened an inquest on Tuesday for the unidentified person. The incident occurred on June 16, 2026. A statement from coroner’s officer Alex Jones, read in court, confirmed the man was found within the landing gear compartment. A ground engineer checked the area and confirmed the man was dead. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as cardiac arrest, followed by hypoxia and hypothermia.
The coroner noted that conditions inside the wheel compartment would have been extremely cold and that there would have been a lack of oxygen. He formally opened the inquest on the basis that he had “reason to believe this death was unnatural”.
Airport Response
A spokesperson for London Gatwick confirmed that emergency services attended an Air Arabia aircraft shortly after 11:30am on June 16, 2026, following an incident identified upon arrival. The spokesperson stated that the airport’s teams supported Sussex Police and the coroner, and offered thoughts to everyone affected by the incident.
Next Steps
The inquest has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume on February 24, 2027.
Questions this report answers
01What caused the man's death?
The inquest opening heard the man died from cardiac arrest, hypoxia, and hypothermia. These were attributed to the extreme cold and lack of oxygen found within the aircraft's landing gear compartment.
02When and where did this incident occur?
The unidentified man was found dead in the landing gear of an Air Arabia plane at Gatwick Airport on June 16, 2026. The aircraft had arrived from Tangiers, Morocco.
03What happens next with the investigation?
An inquest into the man's death has been opened and formally adjourned. The proceedings are scheduled to resume on February 24, 2027.
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