The body of a stowaway has been found in the landing gear of an aircraft that landed in Paris after a flight from the Ivory Coast in West Africa, carrier Air France said on Wednesday.
France's national airline said an investigation was underway.
"Air France confirms that the lifeless body of a stowaway was found in the landing gear compartment of the aircraft operating flight AF703 from Abidjan to Paris-Charles de Gaulle on 7 January 2020." Air France said in a statement.
Air France expressed its "deepest sympathy and compassion at this human tragedy".
Air France declined to comment on French media reports that the stowaway was a child. A source in the office of the local prosecutor leading the investigation said she was not aware of the stowaway's age or identity.
There's been an increase in the number of people attempting to stowaway by hiding in the landing gear of international airliners in the past decade.
There were three attempts made last year alone. In June, the body of a frozen man fell into the garden of a house in Clapham in London after the wheels were lowered for landing.
In September, a person was found frozen to death after the plane landed and in April a man was found alive on the tarmac of an airport in French Guiana following the arrival of a flight from Paris.
Reuters/Newshub.
