Body of suspected stowaway found in London garden ‘after falling from plane’

Bag, water and food discovered in landing gear compartment once jet landed at airport

Tom Batchelor
Monday 01 July 2019 18:36 BST
Kenya Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on final approach
Kenya Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on final approach (Getty)

The body of a person who police believe fell from a flight as it approached Heathrow Airport has been found in a garden in south London, Scotland Yard said.

The suspected stowaway, who police believe fell from the landing gear of a Kenya Airways flight, was found in a garden in Clapham on Sunday.

A bag, water and some food were discovered in the landing gear compartment once it landed at the airport.

There have been several similar cases of bodies being found after falling from aircraft over London in recent years – but most are discovered much closer to Heathrow.

Clapham is around 20km (12 miles) from the west London airport and planes pass over the suburb heading for Heathrow at around 3,000ft.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Officers are working to establish the identity of a man believed to have fallen from the landing gear compartment of an aeroplane.

"Police were called at 15.39hrs on Sunday, 30 June to a residential address in Offerton Road, Clapham after a body was discovered in a garden.

"Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service. The body of a person, believed to be a man (age unknown) was found.

"A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. Police are working to establish the man's identity.

"A crime scene was put in place but has since been closed. The death is not being treated as suspicious. Enquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances."

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