FORT LAUDERDALE, FL- Ground crews at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were greeted with a horrifically macabre sight on Monday when a JetBlue airliner arriving from New York City landed and two people were found dead in one of the aircraft’s landing gear well.
As reported by CNN, the airline released information regarding the incident on Tuesday. Reportedly the bodies were discovered by ground crews during a post-flight maintenance inspection. JetBlue representatives said, “the circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation.” The identities of the deceased are still unknown.
Per the airline, the aircraft had just operated as Flight 1801 and had transited from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Ft. Lauderdale landing at approximately 11:10 p.m. as reported by FlightAware.
CNN reported that a Broward County Sheriff’s Office transmission captured by Broadcastify said, “A gate technician in the landing gear area noticed two males who appear to be Signal 7, advised they are not moving in the landing gear area.”
Carey Codd, spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office told CNN, “The individuals who (are) deceased are both males. Beyond that, their identities at this time are unknown.” He added, “The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform autopsies to determine the causes of death of both individuals.” The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, a law enforcement official told reporters.
Broward County Aviation Department spokesperson Arlene Satchell told reporters that the JetBlue passengers had already deplaned.
“At this time, the identities of the individuals and the circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation,” a JetBlue spokesman said in a statement reported by Forbes. “This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred.”
A spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office told Forbes that the two men were pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics, but they clarified “This is routine whenever we have unattended deaths. It does not mean they are investigating a homicide.”
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesman told the magazine in an email Tuesday that the agency is now coordinating with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the airline, and other stakeholders.
As reported by CNN, the airline released information regarding the incident on Tuesday. Reportedly the bodies were discovered by ground crews during a post-flight maintenance inspection. JetBlue representatives said, “the circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation.” The identities of the deceased are still unknown.
Per the airline, the aircraft had just operated as Flight 1801 and had transited from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Ft. Lauderdale landing at approximately 11:10 p.m. as reported by FlightAware.
CNN reported that a Broward County Sheriff’s Office transmission captured by Broadcastify said, “A gate technician in the landing gear area noticed two males who appear to be Signal 7, advised they are not moving in the landing gear area.”
Carey Codd, spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office told CNN, “The individuals who (are) deceased are both males. Beyond that, their identities at this time are unknown.” He added, “The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform autopsies to determine the causes of death of both individuals.” The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, a law enforcement official told reporters.
JetBlue says the bodies of two people were found last night in the landing gear of a plane at Fort Lauderdale’s airport during a routine maintenance check.
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 7, 2025
"The circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation,” the airline said. pic.twitter.com/IbY2rLgSLe
Broward County Aviation Department spokesperson Arlene Satchell told reporters that the JetBlue passengers had already deplaned.
“At this time, the identities of the individuals and the circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation,” a JetBlue spokesman said in a statement reported by Forbes. “This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred.”
A spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office told Forbes that the two men were pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics, but they clarified “This is routine whenever we have unattended deaths. It does not mean they are investigating a homicide.”
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesman told the magazine in an email Tuesday that the agency is now coordinating with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the airline, and other stakeholders.
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