Man found frozen to death in the undercarriage of TUI plane at Gatwick, while investigation reveals his identity remains a mystery

A man was found frozen to death in the undercarriage of a TUI plane at Gatwick, wearing thin sweatpants and sandals, an inquest heard.

The identity of the stowaway is still unknown tragic discovery was taken at London Airport on December 7, 2022.

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A judicial investigation showed that he had done so frozen dead and could not be moved from the right wheel arch.

The man was wearing a fleece sweater with thin sweatpants and sandals without socks.

He was pronounced dead on Gatwick with an autopsy showing he died of hypothermia.

The storage temperature on board a long-haul flight to Great Britain can drop to -60ºC.

Checks had taken place before the plane left the Gambian capital Banjul London Gatwick but there was nothing “out of the ordinary”.

Although ground crew were present at the time, the inquest was told it was dark.

After his death, Sussex Police issued an e-fit of the unknown man in an attempt to identify him.

Joanne Andrews, area coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, reached a narrative conclusion.

She said: 'It is sad that he cannot be identified and his family have not been informed.

“(There is) no evidence of how he ended up on the plane, but unfortunately he died of hypothermia.”

The coroner closed the inquest but said it could be reopened if more information comes to light.