A MAN was found frozen to death in the undercarriage of a TUI plane at Gatwick wearing thin jogging bottoms and sandals, an inquest heard.
The stowaway’s identity is still unknown after the tragic discovery was made at the London airport on December 7, 2022.
An inquest heard he had frozen to death and was unable to be moved from the right hand wheel well.
The man was wearing a fleece top with thin tracksuit bottoms and sandals with no socks.
He was pronounced dead at Gatwick with a post mortem confirming he died from hypothermia.
The hold temperature onboard a long haul flight to the UK can drop to -60C.
Checks had taken place before the plane left the Gambian capital of Banjul for London Gatwick but there was nothing “out of the ordinary”.
Although ground crews were present at the time, the inquest was told it was dark.
Following his death, Sussex Police issued an e-fit of the unknown man in a bid to identify him.
Joanne Andrews, area coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, reached a narrative conclusion.
She said: “It’s sad he’s not been able to be identified and his family advised.
“(There is) no evidence how he came to be on the plane, but he sadly died of hypothermia.”
The coroner closed the inquest but said it could be re-opened if more information comes to light.
