This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
Published on October 18, 2019, a Kenyan man in his 30s fell to his death from a Kenya Airways plane in London, sparking a probe into his identity and circumstances of his death.
According to police, the man had sneaked into the wheel well of the plane at a Nairobi airport before the flight to Heathrow Airport. His body was found in a garden in London after falling from the landing gear of the plane.
Police released photos of water and an energy drink found in the landing gear, suggesting the man may have been prepared for the long flight. Investigators also released images of a bag containing a small amount of Kenyan currency found in the landing gear.
‘This man has a family somewhere who need to know what has happened to their loved one,’ police said. ‘Our investigation has included liaison with the authorities in Kenya, but so far our efforts to identify this man have proved fruitless. I hope by releasing this e-fit someone known to the deceased will recognise him and make contact,’ police added.
The case is not the first of its kind, with several stowaways dying in planes and falling off as the plane prepares to land. Most stowaways are from Africa, and the cases seem common at Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world.
