Man survives flight from Paris to Algeria inside landing gear
In a chilling incident, a young man in his 20s has been found alive but in serious condition after enduring unimaginable temperatures while hidden in the landing gear compartment of a commercial aircraft. This shocking discovery unfolded upon an Air Algerie flight's arrival in Paris from Oran, Algeria, highlighting the perilous journey the man undertook to defy the norms of air travel.
The miraculous discovery
French authorities revealed the astonishing find during routine technical checks at Paris's Orly airport. The man, devoid of any identification, was swiftly rushed to the hospital in a grave state. Surviving such an ordeal is rare, as the landing gear compartments of commercial aircraft are exposed to frigid temperatures, making his survival all the more miraculous.
Lethal conditions
Exposed to temperatures plummeting to around -50 degrees Celsius and a lack of oxygen at cruising altitudes of 30,000 to 40,000 feet, the man faced life-threatening conditions. Commercial aircraft landing gear compartments are neither heated nor pressurized, posing insurmountable challenges to survival. The inherent dangers of stowing away in such spaces are evident, challenging the limits of human endurance.
Disturbing trend
This incident is not isolated, as data from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reveals that, between 1947 and 2021, 132 individuals, known as wheel-well stowaways, attempted similar journeys. Recent cases from Amsterdam, Santiago, and London highlight the global nature of this disturbing trend, underscoring the desperate measures some take in their pursuit of unconventional travel.
Staggering mortality rates
Despite the survival of the Algerian stowaway, the grim reality is that the mortality rate for those attempting such journeys stands at a staggering 77%, according to FAA figures. Instances of bodies found in landing gear compartments are reminders of the perilous nature of this clandestine mode of travel. A free ride in the sky comes at an alarming cost, often with fatal consequences.
