A few weeks ago, a badly mutilated body was found in Milton, MA. The body was identified-he was a 16 year old boy, from North Carolina. From the condition of the body (and the lack of any other info on how he got there)it is theorized that the kid was in the wheel well of an airliner. When the pilot put down the landing gear (in preparation for landing in Boston), the kid fell out.
Has anyone ever survived this? I cannot imagine how-you firtshave to avoid being crushed by the wheels as it retracts, then you have several hours in the stratosphere (cold and little oxygen). Then, when the plane lands, you have to hold on tight-don’t want to fall out-or drop onto the runways at 200 MPH!
Has anyone ever done this and survived?
You have to be pretty deperate to think of doing this.
This article quotes a survival rate, 1947-2003, of 20.3% - which probably overestimates the survival rate there as will be cases where nobody else ever knows there has been a stowaway (the body having disappeared in the sea).
It’s rare, but it has happened. There was a case just this summer, where a stowaway survived a flight in the wheel well of a Boeing 747 which landed at Heathrow.
In most cases, though, the stowaway dies for the reasons you mention: crushing, falling or exposure. It is definitely not a recommended way to travel!
But if the only alternative is flying Ryanair, I’ll take my chances 
nevermind
Fine, but if you want the main gear well instead of the nose gear well, that’s going to cost you an extra $10, plus a $2 service fee and $1.99 for reserving over the internet.
One of the first (and best-known) cases of survival was that of Armando Socarras Ramirez, who stowed away in the wheel-well of a DC-8 flying from Havana to Madrid. Socarras had a companion who attempted to stow away on the same flight, but did not make it to Spain (alive or dead); it is not known what happened to him.
Plus, you’ll need to bring your own in-flight meal, if desired. Pack lunches are available at the gate from one of our friendly ticket agents. For your own safety during flight, please avoid spilling liquids onto the tires or landing gear, as this may compromise your grip.
Could it not also be true that it underestimates the survival rate since it doesn’t account for the lucky few who survive and slip away undetected?
ETA: Okay, so I suppose it sounds like those who do survive are rarely in any condition to do much slipping away from anything.