Teen Stowaway's Body Found In Landing Gear of U.S. Military Plane, Pentagon Says
The U.S. military has reportedly found a teen stowaway who died while hiding in the landing gear of one of its C-130 Air Force aircrafts, used as a a cargo plane.
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that on a recent trip to Africa that lasted over a week and included six stops, an andolescent, black male was found hiding in the landing gear of one of the military's C-130 aircrafts. U.S. officials have said the boy is suspected of being of African origin, and it remains unclear at which point he stowed away in the landing gear.
"At this point, it is unknown where or when the deceased entered the landing gear wheel well," Pentagon press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the deceased was "an adolescent black male, possibly of African origin
Reuters reports that the U.S. military plane had initially departed from Germany, landing first in Senegal, and then making stops in Mali, Chad, Tunisia and Sicily before ending its trip in Ramstein.
The Pentagon sought to clarify in its statement that the boy's ability to stowaway in the C-130's landing gear does not necessarily signify a breach of security, as this specific military plane is designed to land in rough and remote areas around the world, not just regulated airports.
"The aircraft is a rugged aircraft designed to operate in austere locations. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody that security at some of these fields is not going to be at the same level," Kirby said.
According to the Associated Press, Air Force personnel discovered the boy's body on Sunday while doing an inspection of the C-130 aircraft in Ramstein. Inspectors noticed a orange cloth hanging out of the landing gear that was reportedly attached to the deceased teen.
One senior U.S. official who remained anonymous told the AP that it is likely the boy hid in the plane during its stop in Mali, although the actual events of the incident are still under investigation.
