Body Part Falls From Plane, Lands in Backyard
Tuesday, June 07, 2005

NEW YORK — A body part apparently fell from the wheel well of a plane coming in for a landing on Tuesday at John F. Kennedy Airport (search) and landed in a suburban backyard, authorities said.

More remains were found on a South African Airways (search) flight after it landed at Kennedy, said Tony Ciavolella, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Police suspect the remains were that of a male stowaway, the spokesman said. He would not confirm that the incidents at the airport and Long Island were related, saying, "It's still under investigation."

Messages left with South African Airways were not immediately returned.

Police in Nassau County (search) received a call at 10:51 a.m. about a body part found in the backyard of a house. It apparently had hit the roof of a garage and bounced to the ground, said Officer Thomas Blanchard.

The South African Airways flight had originated in Johannesburg, but made one stop in Dakar, Senegal.

Man, to think I was on a similar flight just a year ago with the same stops.

I wouldn't be surprised though with the problems in Senegal right now.

Graybird

Welcome to America. Charlie

Mmmmm, a 16 hour flight at 20,000 feet in a wheelwell. Might just get a little cold, not worrying about oxygen of course.

WOW

Thats what happins to OBSERVERS whom dont want to pay the going rate on SAFARI ....

They get a (free ride) with great panaramic views, sightseeing inxcluded, the problem is they dont get cabin service .....

Sorry about that,

I just had to get that off my chest after all those claiming they want a free ride on safari for their non hunting guests ... as they say in the classics, you get what you pay for

Also a lot of hunters have complained about the crampred seating arrangements on SAA planes, well I guess that passenger said DAMN THEM, I am going to get me own seat with lots of leg room

Peter

If I were you Peter I´d drop the observer payment issue, it´s becoming annoying and it might not be the way to develop your business.

sounds to me like SAA has found a new way to cram another sardine into the airbus can at least the guy must have had some legroom

Let's hope it was another El Queida trying to slip into the US!

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
If I were you Peter I´d drop the observer payment issue, it´s becoming annoying and it might not be the way to develop your business.

Hi Cewe

In my defence, this is actually a sort of frivilious thread whereby most of us have not taken it to heart I believe !!! I guess my particular warped sense of humour is not what all enjoy

BUT YES I agree with you, maybe the issue has had a good thrashing, I will pull my head in and take my punishment on the chin ...

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
If I were you Peter I´d drop the observer payment issue, it´s becoming annoying and it might not be the way to develop your business.

I agree. The observer fee will gurantee that I won't be wasting my money with that outfit. Bullshit is still Bullshit and I won't stand for it. They got to play my way to get my $$$$.

Probably a desperate coach passenger looking for a seat with more legroom.

He needs alot less legroom now or does he have to pay for 2 seats next flight?

Nope. Next flight, whatever remains of his remains will be cargo.

Here's another story on it...

Body part falls from wheel well of plane, lands in Long Island, N.Y., backyard
08/06/2005 8:47:00 AM

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NEW YORK (AP) - The body of an apparent stowaway was ripped in half during flight Tuesday and his leg crashed into a suburban neighbourhood, where a homeowner found the severed limb in the middle of her lawn, authorities said.


Pam Hearne heard "a loud crash" and later was stunned to see a foot clad in an Adidas sneaker and a sock in her yard, said officer Thomas Blanchard. The leg, with hip and spine attached, dented the shingled roof of her garage before bouncing into the lawn.

Police suspect the remains are from a stowaway who may have been crushed as the South African Airways jet lowered its landing gear on its approach to Kennedy Airport.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters said the pilot of flight 203 would have probably started lowering the plane's landing gear in the sky over the home in Floral Park, a few kilometres from the airport.

Peters said a Customs agent that met the flight at the airport found another leg hanging from the wheel well.

The airline said in a statement that the flight landed with "no impact" on the passengers and crew and it was working closely with authorities to investigate how someone may have stowed away.

The flight originated in Johannesburg, and made one stop in Senegal. Authorities had not identified the remains, which were hauled away from Hearne's yard in a plastic bag.

Hearne, a special education teacher, said that when she first saw the leg in the grass, "it didn't look real."

"But I am very glad that I live where I do," she said, "so I don't have to run for my life like this man probably was doing."

There have been cases of stowaways being crushed by the mechanism in aircraft wheel wells and perishing from the extreme cold at high altitude.