Another case of stowaways on planes? Here’s why there’s no need to panic.
In recent weeks, there have been several reports of individuals being found as stowaways in airplane wheel wells, along with others who managed to enter the passenger area without valid boarding passes.
These occurrences are very rare, making the clustering of incidents somewhat unusual, leading passengers to question the integrity of aviation safety protocols.
Experts indicate that each incident is different, and relevant parties will look into how they can improve security measures. However, they generally believe that these events do not pose a significant risk to the public flying experience.
What security breaches occurred?
Since the end of November, at least four notable security breaches involving commercial aircraft have come to light. Two incidents featured stowaways concealed in a plane’s wheel well, while the other two comprised passengers boarding flights without the necessary documents.
- A woman managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight heading from New York to Paris during the Thanksgiving travel peak.
- An unauthorized passenger was escorted off a Delta Air Lines flight before its departure from Seattle to Honolulu on Christmas Eve.
- A body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that arrived in Hawaii from Chicago on Christmas Eve.
- Two bodies were found in the wheel well of a JetBlue Airways plane upon its arrival in Fort Lauderdale from New York.
Insights from experts
Experts note that while these incidents are alarming, they are also quite rare.
“It’s certainly dramatic when such events occur, but statistically, they are incredibly uncommon,” remarked Daniel Cutrer, an associate professor specializing in Homeland Security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Since 1947, the Federal Aviation Administration reports less than 150 documented incidents of stowaways in wheel wells, and they have had a 76% fatality rate.
Shawn Pruchnicki, an assistant professor at the Center for Aviation Studies at Ohio State University, indicated that the recent high-profile cases might not indicate a true increase in stowaway incidents.
“We might not fully grasp why it seems like there are more cases. With modern smartphones and social media, information spreads much faster than it used to,” he noted. “Airlines previously kept such incidents under wraps more effectively.”
Both experts mentioned that airlines and airports address these incidents individually.
“Stowaways in wheel wells present a physical security challenge,” Cutrer explained. “It’s nearly impossible to monitor every inch of airport fencing continuously.” Most individuals who breach security at airports typically face arrest for trespassing.
Regarding incidents where someone gains access to the passenger area without proper documentation, Pruchnicki emphasized that the exact methods are often unknown.
“Each airport faces its own distinct challenges when it comes to these breaches,” he explained. “Details about how these access violations occur remain undisclosed.”
Members of the public may never get complete clarity on these breaches, particularly those linked to lapses at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, as agencies typically do not disclose their vulnerabilities.
Is air travel still safe?
Pruchnicki and Cutrer maintain that air travel continues to be safe, with no significant threats to passenger safety.
“The main concern for passengers is inconvenience,” Cutrer said. “Those who hide in the wheel wells are often desperate individuals seeking to escape their circumstances,” but they are not usually a danger to anyone.
Pruchnicki affirmed that the aviation industry is on high alert.
“The instances we’ve seen involve people looking for a free ride, either inside or outside the plane,” Pruchnicki noted. “While it’s possible that someone could have malicious intentions, nothing of that nature has been identified in our industry thus far.”
Both emphasized that passengers should remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to airport officials.
