PIAflyer From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2007, 150 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 12207 times:
hi all
i just got the imformation that the flight from Shanghai to San francisco on UAL 858 that there was a cast away in the nose gear. about 30 min ago the aircraft landed with nose gear messsages. they have found a man in the nose gear. he is now dead and being removed. there is no news coverage right know but my father who works at SFO for UAL in the International side who is working on that flight right know has imformed me.
I think it's a sad statement about how desperately some people want out of their home country. I wonder what he was running from in China? He must've been in some sort of trouble with the PRC government or perhaps trying to reunite with family here in the States?
Boeing747_600 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 1259 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 11562 times:
Is the type a 744? If so, isnt it at least theoretically possible that he could have found some sort of nook between the cargo hold and the bay doors to insulate himself?
Chiad From Norway, joined May 2006, 927 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 11526 times:
I read some time ago about a man surviving a nose gear flight from Lagos to London on a BA B747.
I guess it's possible to survive, but what a scary experience when the nose wheel comes up.
And the cold at 35.000 feet ... hurts just to think about.
Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 11478 times:
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9292 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 11340 times:
Quoting Boeing747_600 (Reply 4): If so, isnt it at least theoretically possible that he could have found some sort of nook between the cargo hold and the bay doors to insulate himself?
At -30C for 14 hours with no oxygen....??? I don't think so.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
Byrdluvs747 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2152 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 11247 times:
Am I the only one who is thinking about the security aspect of this? If a person can stowaway in the nosegear bay, then placing a bomb in there is just as possible.
These stories are a indicate poor education by the govts of these countries as well as poor security.
The 747: The hands who designed it were guided by god.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21675 posts, RR: 23 Reply 9, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 11202 times:
Quoting EMBQA (Reply 7): Quoting Boeing747_600 (Reply 4):
If so, isnt it at least theoretically possible that he could have found some sort of nook between the cargo hold and the bay doors to insulate himself?
At -30C for 14 hours with no oxygen....??? I don't think so.
As someone else mentioned, there have been a few survivors from similar events but the flights were probably shorter. There is oxygen at those altitudes but obviously not much. Quite a few climbers have made it to the top of Mount Everest (over 29,000 ft.) without supplementary oxygen.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26911 posts, RR: 83 Reply 10, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 11179 times:
Quoting DeltaGuy (Reply 2): Hasn't there been enough people who tried this to know that it's a guaranteed seat if you can climb in, but for your dead body only?
Alas, many of these folks don't watch CNN or read The New York Times so they are not aware of those who tried such strategies before and don't understand the risks...
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15903 posts, RR: 66 Reply 11, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 11150 times:
As I see it, it's a Darwinian process. "See it as evolution in action."
Quoting Chiad (Reply 5): I read some time ago about a man surviving a nose gear flight from Lagos to London on a BA B747.
I guess it's possible to survive, but what a scary experience when the nose wheel comes up.
And the cold at 35.000 feet ... hurts just to think about.
Not to mention the possibility of the bends.
Quoting Stitch (Reply 10): Alas, many of these folks don't watch CNN or read The New York Times so they are not aware of those who tried such strategies before and don't understand the risks...
True. But even so you'd think someone knows someone who knows someone heard a story. My uneducated guess is that, just as with many people smuggling rings, the actual travelers pay good money for the privilege to die and those making the money have few if any scruples about the fact they just led someone to his death.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Itsjustme From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2765 posts, RR: 11 Reply 16, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days ago) and read 10754 times:
Quoting Byrdluvs747 (Reply 8): Am I the only one who is thinking about the security aspect of this? If a person can stowaway in the nosegear bay, then placing a bomb in there is just as possible.
That was my first thought as well. Yes, it's tragic and all that this person died but this was a flight coming into the U.S. We're spending billions on homeland security yet, from incidents like this, it appears as we're just as susceptible to an airline terror attack today as we were pre 9/11.
SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6094 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 10687 times:
Quoting DeltaGuy (Reply 2): Hasn't there been enough people who tried this to know that it's a guaranteed seat if you can climb in, but for your dead body only?
No sympathy for stowaways....
Much of the world is a desperate place...it's not all as rich and successful as the USA. It really shows what some people will do through to get to a better way of life...while it's less dangerous, people risk their lives all the time coming into the US from Mexico...see how hot that desert gets, and how little water they have? Or those in Darfur who escape into camps in eastern Chad where they are attacked, beaten, raped, and often murdered, but still they risk it because there's a chance it's better than where they are.
IFlyATA From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 236 posts, RR: 3 Reply 18, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 10485 times:
Quoting Byrdluvs747 (Reply 8): Am I the only one who is thinking about the security aspect of this? If a person can stowaway in the nosegear bay, then placing a bomb in there is just as possible.
Yeah no kidding...hearing these stories every so often about stowaways reminds you about how lax security still is.
With that said, I'd be a lot more surprised if the person had stowed away on the SFO-PVG leg, as I'd exepect SFO security to be tighter then PVG.
SashA From Russia, joined May 1999, 858 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 10472 times:
Sad story indeed
It's a horrible way to go.
Shanghai airport perimeter security seems to have holes to fix. Otherwise, could this have been a ground worker who had easy access to the planes as part of the job?
MCOflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 8556 posts, RR: 14 Reply 20, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 10461 times:
Cubastar From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 373 posts, RR: 4 Reply 21, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 10461 times:
Quoting SW733 (Reply 17): Much of the world is a desperate place...it's not all as rich and successful as the USA. It really shows what some people will do through to get to a better way of life.
Security and other aspects aside; DESPERATION has no Bounds! Truly sad. I'm with you Madame.....RIP
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12364 posts, RR: 12 Reply 22, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 10407 times:
As with other similar events, and especially as to USA bound aircraft even before 9/11, there should be much better security around the aircraft whenever they are on the ground, to keep unauthorized people away, to check on who is working the aircraft and that the a/c never departs until all people who got near it are accounted for including baggage loaders, ground maintenance, cleaning and catering staff. There may have to be inspections using mirrors held by inspectors or inside of the area of landing gear compartments on specific flights.
Clearly those who try to smuggle themselves via the landing gear compartment's are in such a bad set of circumstances or so wanting to go to something they think is better and are either ignorant of what the conditions will be or will take the risk.
Yep, it's probably real hard to feel sympathy for anyone when you live so obscenely well in the land of plenty. I guess it's hard to know the depths of desperation so many people on this planet endure whilst one is so comfortably tucked away in the first world. It's real hard to show sympathy when one has never had to fear for the lives of themselves and their families and friends. Sympathy is the last thing on your mind when you have a full stomach and a warm bed.
Funnily enough and somewhat ironically, types like you would the first to demand that the Mexicans and Canadians be sympathetic if due to some disaster, you where to become a refugee from the US. I only hope that one day you get a taste of your own medicine in a time of your most desperate need.
JetMech
JetMech split the back of his pants. He can feel the wind in his hair.
SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6094 posts, RR: 10 Reply 24, posted (5 years 11 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 9870 times:
Quoting JetMech (Reply 23): Yep, it's probably real hard to feel sympathy for anyone when you live so obscenely well in the land of plenty. I guess it's hard to know the depths of desperation so many people on this planet endure whilst one is so comfortably tucked away in the first world. It's real hard to show sympathy when one has never had to fear for the lives of themselves and their families and friends. Sympathy is the last thing on your mind when you have a full stomach and a warm bed.
25 Dougloid: There but for the grace of G-d go you or I. Most of life is an accident.
26 CBERFlyer: It always amazes me how for some people the first thought when reading about these kind of tragic events is something akin to "no sympathy". For me, i
27 Piaflyer: ha ha halarious no he is a mechanic like the one who found the body, actually the mechanic who found the dead body is my dad's friend
28 SuseJ772: Well said, SW733. Any American who has traveled outside the States on a Missionary/Humanitarian trip would never say that they have no sympathies for
29 LAXspotter: well said, this is really a sad story and shows the desperation and the trouble people are going to go thru in the hope of a better life, really sad.
31 Kstatepilot: I have no sympathy for this person, and here is why. If he wanted to get to U.S.A., all he needed to do was go to the Embassy. Once there he would ha
32 Jacobin777: ..it takes them time to get acclimated to the various levels of oxygen..and they start off from a high altitude already (i.e. "base camp")......
33 SW733: Unfortunately, that just isn't true. Even before 9/11 it was tough...now, it's even more tough. I know a lot of people see the US as a savior for eve
34 JetMech: Sort of like these two? So, you are saying that it's just a simple case of waltzing into your local US embassy if you want to live in the US. You are
36 Rsg85: Haha yes but they do it slowly, not turbines to push them up, and they wear a few extra layers. Is it possible to get access to cargo area from the m
37 Haggis79: JetMech and CBERFlyer, welcome to my R/U list! you do not truely believe this, do you? Even for me, who comes from a European 1st world country it cou
38 Kstatepilot: Just going to ignore this immature comment... Actually, yes. I have several friends that came in legally. It isn't hard. So since I don't know alot a
39 SW733: Check my profile, lived here since August 2002. In fact I work for the government of Kansas. Thanks for my paycheck Mr. Taxpayer I understand, but th
40 Kstatepilot: Yeah, you pay taxes also. but yet still possible. If the only way to get to here is to hop in the nosewheel of a 747, you give up to easy. The ends d
41 Qantas787: If this guy is capable of circumventing security to get get himself into the nose bay of a jet aircraft, he is bloody well clever enough to know the d
42 Mlglaw: Is there any datum kept as to how many countries people have attempted to enter illegally by being a nosewheel stowaway?
43 Aaron747: Picture from the evil SF Chronicle: Poor sap thought he was prepared with the jackets. Too bad he forgot about the atmosphere.
44 Lumus: So since I don't know alot about construction it would be acceptable if I hide in a wheel track on a backhoe? If I get ran over, will you feel sorry
45 HAWK21M: Sad case.Most common people are not aware of the Dangers of retracting gears,Temperatures encountered & Pressurisation. regds MEL
46 Ogre727: What a stupid statement. Just because you have "several friends" that came there legally does not mean that it is easy for everybody. Have you ever s
47 Qantas787: So many bag the US, so many more want to live there. Sadly some will take extreme measures in the forlorn hope of making it.
49 David L: You know, I nearly took the opportunity to make the first response by predicting there would be a barrage of people saying how stupid it was because "
50 Jayhawk: Rarely am i driven to post, however some of the comments here leave me no alternative. One word to describe you folks who not only know no sympathy an
51 SW733: Well I'll be damed, you're right...it sounded like a word I would use at 3am after half a bottle of Bacardi.
52 Starlionblue: There are big signs at most airports saying things like "Do Not Enter" and "No Trespassing". I do feel sorry for the guy. He was probably fleeced to t
53 Kmh1956: So many are assuming that this man was aware that what he was doing was dangerous. He could have very well been a poor uneducated farmer or something
54 LAPA_SAAB340: And this means....what? Sorry, but this tells me you have no idea of what you're talking about. Only for certain select individuals. For most of the
55 Starlionblue: As an immigrant to the US I must agree. It was not that hard for my wife and I to apply to the visa lottery. However, we did need transcripts, pictur
56 BlueSkys: I think u think to highly of your security here. And why the hell does everyone always think BOMB BOMB BOMB!!!! Oh wait, i think i live in North Amer
58 BlueSkys: Quoting JetMech (Reply 23): Yep, it's probably real hard to feel sympathy for anyone when you live so obscenely well in the land of plenty. I guess it
59 AirSpare: Yes they do, they always do. I agree, he should be arrested, sent to Gitmo for 17 years then buried. The majority of no sympathy posters have no idea
60 AC320: This went off on a bad, non-civil aviation tangent. you're all free to disagree, but let's keep the insults and pettiness down in the future, shall we
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