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Authorities are investigating after a body was discovered in the wheel well of a plane at Maui’s Kahului Airport on Christmas Eve. United Airlines has not clarified how or when the individual accessed the wheel well, but the airline is cooperating with law enforcement. The Maui Police Department has not released further details as the investigation continues.

This unsettling discovery comes amid heightened concerns about aviation security following a series of recent stowaway incidents across the nation.

In a related case, a person managed to bypass multiple layers of security and board a Delta flight without a ticket at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) earlier this week. Delta passengers, like Vanessa Schaffer, expressed disbelief at how such a breach could occur.

“They check your ID numerous times,” Schaffer said. “It doesn’t make sense that somebody would get through.”

According to the Transportation Security Administration, the stowaway passed through a security checkpoint on Monday night but evaded an ID check. The following day, they managed to board a Honolulu-bound flight undetected. Delta confirmed the incident, and the passenger was arrested after the plane returned to the gate during taxiing.

Former commercial pilot John Nance said the incident highlights lapses in a system that has worked reliably for years.

“There’s never just one cause,” Nance explained. “It may involve training, compliance, or even a lackadaisical attitude. But it’s probably all of that.”

These incidents come at a time when air travel is at its peak, raising significant concerns about passenger safety and security. With the TSA and airlines under scrutiny, officials are urging for a reassessment of existing protocols.

As investigations into both incidents continue, travelers are left questioning the robustness of airport security measures during the busiest travel season of the year.1a:T78

Authorities Investigate Body Found in Plane Wheel Well at Maui Airport