LONDON – A serious aviation incident unfolded at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) after authorities discovered a deceased individual inside the landing gear compartment of an Airbus A320 operated by Air Arabia Maroc (3O).
The aircraft arrived from Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) on June 16, 2026, during a routine international passenger service.
Emergency teams responded shortly after landing at approximately 11:45 AM local time. The discovery immediately escalated the situation into a formal investigation led by local authorities.
The aircraft, which operated flight 3O102, had completed a scheduled short-haul route from Morocco to the United Kingdom before the incident came to light.
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Incident Discovery and Investigation
Authorities identified the body inside the wheel-well area after the aircraft parked at the gate at London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Air Arabia Maroc (3O) confirmed that it alerted relevant agencies immediately upon detection of the incident.
The aircraft had arrived from Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) after a flight duration of roughly three hours. Airport emergency services secured the area while investigators began examining how the individual accessed the aircraft.
Officials have not released identification details as inquiries continue. Additional forensic teams are now reviewing airport surveillance footage and coordinating with Moroccan aviation authorities to reconstruct the timeline of events before departure.
Preliminary checks also focus on possible breaches in perimeter fencing and airside access points.
Flight Details Overview and Route Summary
The Airbus A320 involved, registered CN-NMH, operates under Air Arabia Maroc (3O) and serves multiple short-haul international routes.
Flight 3O102 regularly connects Tangier (TNG) with London Gatwick (LGW), covering approximately 1,100 miles, Simple Flying flagged.
The aircraft completed its outbound journey without reported technical issues. After the incident response, airport operations resumed with minor disruption while the aircraft underwent inspection procedures.
The return operation later that day faced delays due to safety checks.
Aviation Security Probe and Risk Assessment
Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into airport perimeter security and airside access control.
They are reviewing surveillance systems, ground handling procedures, and potential breaches that may have allowed unauthorized access to the aircraft.
Wheel-well stowaway incidents remain rare but continue to raise serious safety concerns in global aviation. Studies indicate that extreme altitude conditions, including low oxygen levels and freezing temperatures, make survival highly unlikely during flight.
Historical aviation data shows that dozens of such attempts have been recorded worldwide over several decades, with a limited number of survivors.
Aviation regulators continue to treat these cases as high-priority security risks due to their operational and safety implications.
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