Many people have been known to stowaway on aircraft tyres but they are mostly unlucky because they usually die perhaps due to the duration of the journey. The teenager might have survived the flight due to the fact that the distance from Benin to Lagos is under an hour.
Stowaways in aircraft wheel wells face numerous health risks, many of which are fatal: being mangled when undercarriage retracts, tinnitus, deafness, hypothermia, hypoxia, frostbite, acidosis and finally falling when the doors of the compartment reopen. The landing gear compartment is not equipped with heating, pressure or oxygen, which are vital for survival at a high altitude. According to experts, at 18,000 feet, hypoxia causes light headedness, weakness, vision impairment and tremors. By 22,000 feet the oxygen level of the blood drops and the person will struggle to stay conscious. Above 33,000 feet their lungs would need artificial pressure to operate normally.
Stowaways who survived usually travelled relatively short distances or at a low altitude. Almost all aircraft stowaways are male.
From 1947 until September 2012, there were 96 known stowaway attempts worldwide in wheel wells of 85 separate flights, which resulted in 73 deaths with only 23 survivors. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I understand Zik stowed away to America. How did he survive the long journey? Don't tell me he was on a ship.
ReplyDeleteYes,the legendary Zik stowed away to America in a Ship,made a success of his youthful adventure and came back a celebrated hero!
ReplyDeleteAdaramola.