Stowaway plunged 1,400ft after falling from plane, inquest hears
HORRIFIED office staff found a stowaway who plunged 1,400ft after falling from a jet's wheel bay, an inquest heard yesterday.
Carlito Vale fell 1,400 ft into an office from the BA flight
Carlito Vale, 29, fell into the office as the BA flight from South Africa descended into Heathrow.
He had hidden in the landing gear for the final leg of an 11,000-mile journey from his native Mozambique last June.
But he was ejected when the wheels were lowered as the flight from Johannesburg prepared to land.
He had hidden in the landing gear for the final leg of an 11,000-mile
Staff at shopping website Notonthehighstreet.com found his body in Richmond.
When I got to the roof I saw a gentleman's lifeless body in the air conditioning unit
Inspector Steve Lemon of Richmond police, said his passport was found in a bag left behind at Johannesburg airport.
Senior coroner Kally Cheema recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing how Mr Vale had tried to reach Britain following a journey across Africa.
Inspector Lemon said: "When I got to the roof I saw a gentleman's lifeless body in the air conditioning unit.
The flight was coming into land at Heathrow when the stowaway fell out
The BA flight was flying from South Africa
"It appeared the body had fallen from the sky at great height."
A second stowaway, 24, was found critical injured in the jet's undercarriage.
But he later vanished and his whereabouts is unknown, the inquest heard.