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Heathrow stowaway still in critical condition after flight from South Africa Heathrow stowaway still critical after 10-hour BA flight from South Africa
(35 minutes later)
A stowaway who clung to the undercarriage of a British Airways plane from South Africa to London remains in a critical condition in hospital, police have said. A stowaway who clung to the undercarriage of a British Airways plane during a 10-hour flight from South Africa to London remains in a critical condition in hospital, police have said.
The 24-year-old man was found in the undercarriage of the plane at Heathrow on Thursday, after enduring freezing temperatures over the 8,000-mile (12,875km), 10-hour flight from Johannesburg. The 24-year-old was found in the undercarriage of the plane at Heathrow on Thursday, after enduring freezing temperatures over the 8,000-mile (12,875km) flight from Johannesburg.
A detailed postmortem on the body of a second man who was discovered an hour later on the roof of an office building in west London will be carried out at Kingston hospital on Tuesday. It is not clear if he died from the fall; flight data reveals the plane would have been at an altitude of around 427 metres (1,400ft) when it passed over the area. A detailed postmortem examination on the body of a second man, who was discovered an hour later on the roof of an office building in west London, will be carried out at Kingston hospital on Tuesday. It is not clear if he died from the fall; flight data reveal the plane would have been at an altitude of about 427 metres (1,400ft) when it passed over the area.
Related: One in four plane stowaways can survive, but London case is astonishingRelated: One in four plane stowaways can survive, but London case is astonishing
Officers are preparing to speak to the stowaway who survived to ascertain whether the two incidents are connected. British Airways said it was working with the authorities to establish what happened.Officers are preparing to speak to the stowaway who survived to ascertain whether the two incidents are connected. British Airways said it was working with the authorities to establish what happened.
Police are yet to confirm the identities and nationalities of the men.Police are yet to confirm the identities and nationalities of the men.
Last week, David Learmount, an aviation expert and consulting editor of Flight International magazine, said the fact that one of the two men survived the long flight suggests he may have been able to get into the baggage hold of the aircraft, which would raise serious security questions. David Learmount, an aviation expert and consulting editor of Flight International magazine, said last week that the fact that one of the two men survived the long flight suggests he may have been able to get into the baggage hold of the aircraft, which would raise serious security questions.
“If these two were neither airline nor airport staff and somehow managed to get on a flight, then it becomes a serious security issue. Just how did they get [on the restricted] airside at the airport?” Learmount said.“If these two were neither airline nor airport staff and somehow managed to get on a flight, then it becomes a serious security issue. Just how did they get [on the restricted] airside at the airport?” Learmount said.
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport, where the flight originated, said security was being heightened and that the incident was the first of its nature there in 10 years. Colin Naidoo, a spokesman for Airports Company South Africa, which manages the airport, said: “It’s a security breach … we need to find out how and why this happened. It’s very rare for this to happen in South Africa.”Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport, where the flight originated, said security was being heightened and that the incident was the first of its nature there in 10 years. Colin Naidoo, a spokesman for Airports Company South Africa, which manages the airport, said: “It’s a security breach … we need to find out how and why this happened. It’s very rare for this to happen in South Africa.”
Related: If clinging to an aeroplane is someone’s best hope of reaching safety, they’ll take it | Diane TaylorRelated: If clinging to an aeroplane is someone’s best hope of reaching safety, they’ll take it | Diane Taylor
Stowaways usually hide in the landing gear of a plane, where they are exposed to the elements and endure subzero temperatures. Most are killed by the cold and lack of oxygen at high altitude.Stowaways usually hide in the landing gear of a plane, where they are exposed to the elements and endure subzero temperatures. Most are killed by the cold and lack of oxygen at high altitude.
Though rare, there have been previous cases of stowaways plunging to their deaths in west London. In September 2012, José Matada, 26, died after falling from the undercarriage of a Heathrow-bound flight from Angola on to a street in south-west London.Though rare, there have been previous cases of stowaways plunging to their deaths in west London. In September 2012, José Matada, 26, died after falling from the undercarriage of a Heathrow-bound flight from Angola on to a street in south-west London.
An inquest into his death heard that the Mozambicque national man was likely to have survived temperatures as low as -60C (-76F) for most of the 12-hour flight. It was believed he was dead or nearly dead by the time he hit the ground. An inquest into his death heard that the Mozambican national was likely to have survived temperatures as low as -60C (-76F) for most of the 12-hour flight. It was believed he was dead or nearly dead by the time he hit the ground.