Teen Stowaways Identified After Fatal JetBlue Flight Discovery

The Independent provides on-the-ground reporting on crucial issues, including reproductive rights, climate change, and the influence of Big Tech. The organization investigates complex topics, such as the financial activities of political figures and produces documentaries that shed light on important social issues. The goal is to provide factual information and analysis during critical moments in the United States.

The organization relies on its reporters to gather information and present both sides of the story. The Independent aims to be a trusted source of news for people across the political spectrum. Unlike many other news outlets, The Independent does not use paywalls, believing that quality journalism should be accessible to everyone.

In a recent development, the identities of two teenagers found in the landing gear of a JetBlue aircraft have been confirmed. The Broward Sheriff’s Office announced that Jeik Aniluz Lusi, 18, and Elvis Borques Castillo, 16, were discovered during a routine inspection at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on January 6. DNA technology was used to confirm their identities.

The plane had flown from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to New York’s John F Kennedy Airport on the day of the discovery. It then continued to Jamaica, New York, and Salt Lake City, Utah before arriving in South Florida. Authorities viewed the incident as a significant security breach.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, over 75 percent of stowaway attempts between 1947 and 2020 resulted in death. The extreme dangers of the wheel well, including hypothermia, oxygen deprivation, and the risk of being crushed, contribute to the high mortality rate. Even survivors can experience long-term physical damage. Survival is rare, and death is most likely caused by hypothermia and asphyxiation.

Mary Schiavo, former inspector general of the Department of Transportation, emphasized the seriousness of these incidents, stating that they represent a serious aviation security violation. Similar cases have occurred, including a body found in December 2024 following a flight from Chicago to Maui. In 2021, a man hiding in a wheel well in Miami was found alive.