Man Found Alive After Hiding In Wheel Section Of Plane That Flew Over 11 Hours

A stowaway was found hiding in the front wheel section of a plane that landed at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Sunday morning.

The man remained hidden for more than 11 hours in the nose wheel of the Cargolux cargo plane after it took off from Johannesburg, South Africa, Dutch police said. The Boeing 747 freighter had a stopover in Nairobi, Kenya, as per Schiphol's website and flight tracking data.

Airport ground crew at Schiphol Airport immediately alerted authorities after noticing what appeared to be a person, CNN reported.

“We learned that a person was found having stowed away on a cargo plane at the airport's cargo platform, this morning,” Schiphol Airport spokeswoman Willemeike Koster told the publication.

Dutch police and emergency services arrived at the scene and confirmed the man was still alive. However, he was found to have low body temperature, according to Royal Dutch Military Police spokeswoman Joanne Helmonds.

"We were surprised upon finding this man but even more surprised at him being alive after the plane flew over 10,000 [kilometers] in very, very cold temperatures," Helmonds said.

Officials managed to stabilize the man at the airport and then transported him to a hospital.

"When the man has recovered and cleared by the hospital, he will then be processed at the Asylum Seekers Centre (AZC) where his status will be determined if he indeed is looking for asylum," Helmonds added.

Helmonds said the man’s age and nationality had not yet been confirmed. She said their first concern was ensuring the man’s wellbeing, according to Reuters.

"This is definitely very unusual that someone was able to survive the cold at such a height - very, very unusual."

A spokesperson for freight carrier Cargolux confirmed via email to Reuters that a stowaway traveled on the flight, which was operated by Cargolux Italia. "We are not in a position to make any further comment until the authorities and the airline have completed their investigation," the spokesperson said.

Freelance aviation reporter Richard Schuurman called it a “miracle” after the man was found alive.

RNZ reported that it is unusual for stowaways to survive the cold temperature and low oxygen at high altitudes, especially on long-hour flights.

"It is quite remarkable that the man is still alive," Helmonds noted.