Stowaway killed in jet plunge
A stowaway found dead after falling from the undercarriage of a Heathrow-bound plane was hoping for “a better life”, an inquest heard yesterday.
The body of Jose Matada, from Mozambique, was found on a pavement in Mortlake, south-west London, on September 9 last year – his 26th birthday.
He had “very severe” head injuries.
Police at first thought he may have been the victim of a violent assault, West London Coroner’s Court was told.
They traced his contacts through a mobile phone sim card and found he had boarded the plane in Angola.
A woman identified only as Ms Hunt told police he had worked for her family in South Africa and “desired to travel to Europe for a better life”.
The coroner, Dr Sean Cummings, recorded a verdict of accidental death.