Gatwick Airport inquest opens into man found dead in plane landing gear

An inquest has opened into the death of an unidentified man discovered in the wheel compartment of an Air Arabia aircraft at London Gatwick Airport. The body was found by a ground engineer on June 16, 2026, following the flight's arrival from Tangier, Morocco.

Coroner Joseph Turner stated the death was unnatural, noting that the conditions within an airplane's landing gear are characterized by extreme cold and dangerously low oxygen levels. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death to be a combination of cardiac arrest, hypoxia, and hypothermia.

Sussex Police launched an investigation into the incident, and authorities are still working to establish the man's identity and nationality. The inquest has been adjourned until February 24, 2027.