Guatemalan Stowaway Hides in Wheel Well of Aircraft

A man hid in the wheel well of an American Airlines flight from Guatemala to Miami this past weekend, November 27, 2021. The man, 26, was found stunned from the experience at Miami International Airport. He was taken to a local Miami hospital.

“Persons are taking extreme risks when they try to conceal themselves in confined spaces such as an aircraft,” Customs and Border Patrol said. The man was crammed into the gear area of AA Flight 1182 for close to three hours in freezing conditions. The flight was likely flying at an altitude of more than 30,000′ where temperatures can be -40 degrees Celsius or colder.

The flight was “met by law enforcement due to a security issue,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We are working with law enforcement in their investigation,” the airline added. Miami-Dade Police also said they would be assisting CBP in the investigation.