E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Metropolitan Police via AP
This e-fit provided by the London Metropolitan Police shows a computer-based face of a man authorities police are trying to identify after his body was found in west London.
LONDON — Police in Britain have appealed for help establishing the identity of a man whose body apparently fell from a plane in the sky and crashed onto a west London sidewalk.
A London police spokesman, who was not authorized to speak on the record because of force policy, told The Associated Press on Sunday that police have released an "e-fit" image of the man's face and a photo of a tattoo on his left arm. The unusual tattoo showed the letters "Z" and "G."
The mystery began in September when residents of a suburban street in Mortlake woke up on a quiet Sunday morning to find the crumpled body of a black man on the sidewalk of Portman Avenue, near a convenience store, an upscale lingerie shop and a storefront offering Chinese medical cures.
Looking for clues to identity
Detectives believed at first the man was a murder victim and cordoned off the area. Within a day, however, police concluded the man — probably already dead — had fallen to the ground when a jet passing overhead lowered its landing gear as it neared the runway at nearby Heathrow Airport.
The apparent stowaway had no identification papers — just some currency from Angola, leading police to surmise that he was from that African country, especially as inquiries showed that a plane from Angola was beginning its descent into Heathrow at about that time.
More coverage about Britain on NBCNews.com
The macabre explanation made perfect sense to residents, who are able to see planes lower their landing gears as they pass overhead, said Catherine Lambert, who lives a few doors down from the spot where the man landed.
"You could see him, his body was contorted," she said. "It was a beautiful blue day, really sunny, but we had to keep the children inside. I didn't want the children to see, and to have to explain to them and put fear into them every time a plane goes over."
Complete Europe coverage on NBCNews.com
A post mortem conducted two days after the body landed listed the cause of death as "multiple injuries."
Lingering sadness
Lambert, 41, said there is lingering sadness, since the man has not been identified and there has been no way to tell his family he is gone.
"I felt, what was he running away from? What made him think he could he could? And how will his family ever know? He's a lost soul now; his father and mother are probably waiting for him to make contact," she said.
Police also said attempts to identify the man with the help of Angolan authorities had been unsuccessful. They stressed there is only "circumstantial" evidence linking the stowaway to that country.
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
In a statement, police said the man is believed to be an African of slight build between the ages of 20 and 30. He was wearing jeans, white sneakers and a gray sweatshirt when he was found on Sept. 9, police said.
Although firm figures are not available, in recent years there has been a rise in the number of stowaways trying to get to Western Europe by hiding in the undercarriages of passenger planes.
Police said the body is being held for possible repatriation in case the man's identity is established.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Suspect in US envoy's killing in Libya arrested in Egypt
- DJs in prank call over royal birth suspended
- Climate talks end with deal that's 'not where we want to be'
- PhotoBlog: Hero's welcome for Hamas leader back from exile
- Secretary of state talk opens Rice to criticism -- from left
- Video: Penguins in Tokyo take over as Santa’s elves
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
if true...when will people learn not to stow away in the planes landing gear...sorry for him
This happens occasionally and rarely if ever has it been survived. You'll either freeze to death or die from hypoxia.
It does happen occasionally and these people must be watching too much 007 because if the landing gear going up doesn't initially crush you to death, the altitude will kill you due to lack of oxygen.
Makes me feel bad. The guy was trying to escape a country torn apart and this happens because he was not educated enough on modern anything.
Why didn't he just buy a ticket like everyone else?
I agree he was probably DOA dead on arrival from the cold/no oxygen. He probably payed someone a life savings to get close enough to stow away. Be grateful for what you have especially when you see what others will do at a chance for your life.
HIs name is David Bowie.
Poor fellow. Rest In Peace.
Todd-651965
What are you? Insensitive, live in a cocoon or just plain idiot?
LG,
Relax, Todd's just being sarcastic.
(I hope anyway) LOL
@therealChris
You're showing your age. (that was the first thing I thought of also)
Creek Dog
I totally agree with you. This happened once before (that I can remember) with a teenager from Haiti. Same situation. Some people are trying to escape an extreme poverty, and they are kept in the dark of everything, on purpose, and they have no choice than to be the extreme poverty class with no hopes.
Specially in Africa, where the pay is $3.00 a day for backbreaking work from sunrise to dusk. No social help and no medical insurance. And after watching the Koni movie, I would not be surprised he was running away from something other than extreme poverty.
Holy crap! Its Mickey! Doctor Who threw Mickey out of the TARDIS!! :O
It's raining men.. Hallelujah it's raining men.. Too soon for that?
The first thing I thought was drug deal gone wrong, and he was thrown out of a plane. Or maybe I watched too many of those movies.
Anyway, no one deserves to die that way. May he rest in peace and may he finally found the freedom his soul needed.
Keith Murphster
Personally, too straight for that, but not too soon. That was funny.
With the prices of tickets during the holidays, I don't blame people for taking such a risk!
Some airlines will not provide tickets unless the passenger has a valid entry visa. If the passenger does not have a valid entry visa the airline will be held accountable by the destination country. Penalties are severe, and affected airlines have no option but to vigorously enforce this strict regulation, which is imposed by the host country to discourage refugees and other personae non gratae. .
On six previous occasions, airlines (QANTAS and Emirates) would not issue me with a ticket without first sighting my entry visas (for Saudi Arabia and Oman).
In today's age of terrorism and the prolific worldwide influx of "illegal" immigrants and other "undesirable" aliens, I imagine some airlines are under immense pressure to enforce this practice. This is a principal reason why some refugees cannot board airlines, but are compelled instead to risk their lives and pay ten times the price to people smugglers for the terror-laden privilege of travelling hundreds of miles in unseaworthy boats.
obviously that was an execution they took his ID that was smart to a point thats what i would have done they should have done it at night not in broad daylight they saw the landing gear down they should have called the airport immediatly how stupid is that to land right after that
I feel sorry for the deceased, he took a chance and lost his life for it. Also thankful that I have never felt that level of desperation.
Hancock????
It's only a matter of time before RyanAir figures out a way to charge people for flying in the wheel wells.
the landing gear area is not pressurized he would have died in the air well before he fell even if the gear didnt crush him. You can not live very long at +30,000ft. He would have blacked out around 20,000 ft due to lack of oxygen. He was dead well before the jet even left his country..
When The Queen said "Drop in & C me sometime", he didn't have 2 take it so literal.
;-)
Illegal immigration just doesn't always work out!
Discount airfare doesn't include landing.
....let this be a warning to stay away from discount travel sites
Flying Monkeys? The Mayans were right, the end is near
That is mostly Hollywood fantasy unless the door is already removed like in skydiving planes. Ever tried to open a car door that wasn't initially closed completely when moving at just 5-10mph to attempt to shut it tight without stopping? Notice how hard it is? Now imagine doing it at 10x that speed. The smallest planes, 4-seat Cessna 172s and Piper Cherokees, can fly as slow as ~50mph safely and controllable (depending on load with full flaps), but even that is too much wind to open the passenger door which open out like car doors. Of course, it is physically impossible to open the door of pressurized aircraft like airliners as you see in the movies: the doors open inward and are designed to push outward and seal themselves with the higher pressure inside the aircraft. You will not be able to open one of those doors so long as cabin pressurization is on, no matter how strong you or a group of men are combined.
In any event, I really wish Amnesty International or some other international immigration group would help educate the people in third world African nations (and elsewhere) who feel they can hide in gear wells of airliners and survive. Even the cargo hold of standard airliners are not pressurized or heated. One day one of these people are going to drop out of the sky and kill someone. Kids could have been outside playing and this guy's body could have landed on top of them, killing them too.
Are they sure he didn't just fall off the rope? Look for a nearby tree
@keith-2748001, you might want to re-read the article and look at all the words this time. The residents of the area found him the next morning, i.e. he fell over night.
It's called roach class.
must have looked like a big bird turd when he hit the pavement !!!
MisterJ - LOL dr. who is probably somehow involved in this incident.
Flights going overseas should be required to lower their landing gear 30min. after reaching 30,000 feet so any garbage can be left in the country it originated from. Failure to do so and incidents like this occure a heavy littering fine should be imposed promptly.
Beaucoup Dinky Dau - When were you over there? Welcome Home.
7.62 - what a stupid comment. Do you know what would happened to any aircraft that lowered its landing gear while cruising at 30,000 ft? Since you probably have never left the county you were born in, even by car, you probably don't.
Seriously... you think!
Just more third world scum trying to get money from developed world social programs !!! Another coming in the back door too !
Johnny N.
Don't blame the person, blame your government that allows it
How many have come in your back door?
@rdonham,
you shouldn't refer to your sister mother like that! BTW, what do you call her.....mommysis or perhaps sismom or do you just make some random noise?
Alien abduction gone wrong.
darwin award finalist
Yeah he sure won!
Just like the Terrorist suicide bomb class where the teacher with dynamite strapped to his body while holding a small hand held button and says,
I thought it might be a new barbarian siege tactic where they launch plague infected bodies over the fortress walls.
Or the robber standing in front of the bank holding a gun to his own head and demanding an airplane, "Or the hostage gets it."
"Pay attention class.......................I can only do this once!"
(snicker) DAWG!
"Or the hostage gets it."
Nice. Way 2 bring Blazing Saddles into the 21st Century. Kudos!
GA Denver Bill
Shades of Blazing saddles!
Maybe this was an attempted underwear bombing again not planned right.
It's raining men!
Hallelujah
New meaning to Rain Man huh?
The lady said;
It isn't the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop.
Every single one of you are scum. This is a human being. May you all rot in Hell.
Was a human being.
Just overflowing with the milk of human kindness, aren't ya? Besides, you're mixing your figures of speech. May you burn in hell, or rot in prison.
@Human-4637934, get over yourself!
There's 1 on every thread, OldDog; And this thread has several.
Amazing how many people come on a blog to lecture everyone how they aren't good enough human beings.
Apparently being judgmental is a positive trait.
The guy thought he was "da bomb" turned out he was only dropped like one.
Or he was trying to make it to London to see "Skyfall" ...he just took it too literally.
When he got to his new home he wanted to hit the ground running?
That's just horrible.
CP,
"Hit the ground running"...Groan- after I finish laughing!
RuPaul's dream finally came true! It's raining men!
What about fo'shizzle? Is that a type of rain?
And gimme a break. Yes, he was a human. Yes, we feel sorry for his family. Yes, we feel awful that he felt this was his only option to escape whatever he was trying to escape.
But, the circumstances are just so ripe for smart-alec comments. It's human nature to find laughter in dark situations. Ever hear of "gallows humor"?
Besides, think of it as a public service. Maybe if people know that they will be heartily mocked after death if they try this stunt, they won't do it.
Lighten up.
For all those insensitive idiots saying that
this means that it’s raining men your statements are completely unfounded. For
one, this was only a single man, not multiple men, and secondly rain is defined
as the falling of percipitation from a cloud to the surface, since this guy is
a human and not percipitation him failling from a plane (not a cloud) as a
human-being ( which is not a form of percipitation) can not be classified as
rain. You are all ignorant and I hope that this man’s family gets resolution
some time soon.
So you don't consider a "drizzle" rain?
What's "percipitation"? The urban dictionary defines it as the sweat on one's ass after a good workout. I believe the word you wanted to use was "Precipitation", which refers to condensed moisture that falls from the sky. Who is ignorant now?
You still are todd because anyone with a
middle-school education would be able to understand what I was saying based on
context clues – whydon’t you look that term up in your precious dictionary too
you square. The point is that people are being insensitive about this man’s
death because of the nature of it and you should be ashamed of yourself todd
for helping to intensify those misplaced-feelings. And drizzle is just light
rain, downpour is strong rain and all that other crap but it’s still rain so
stop nit-picking and contribute something to the damn discussion of this
article if you feel the need to comment on it so badly.
So nobody better comment on YOU, eh?
People are obviously free to comment chris but
it should only be with things that are relevant to the discussion and
enblighten it or else they might as well just go comment on their fantasy
footbal league because they have no place here.
See comment #9.1.
@littlehater; you selling any??
Spread your hate somewhere else, maybe your by yourself.
Littlehater, this one's for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geC2gHZ6m2g
Are you saying that the 80's made nothing but scientifically inaccurate songs?
@litterhater- I enjoy trolling hate filled contributors who don't know how to use spell check out into the sunlight. Name calling at individuals is inappropriate and completely uncalled for. If you don't like to see a little morbid humor at this man's expense, I got it. But calling everyone names makes you look small and inconsequential to the discussion.
Have a super sparkly day and a very merry Christmas!
Litter Hater,
Don't get your panties in a bunch. This kind of story is so rare that these guys are just comedic about it.
We "ALL" have a place here no matter what we want to post. There are thousands of people who go on here and we see the ones who want to comment.
Talk about dictionary, You say (men raining from the sky) is "unfounded" Hmmmmm. I understand. It hasn't been proved yet that men rain from the sky but is that what you mean or are you trying to say "Uncalled for"?
There are 7 billion people on the face of the earth so how many different personalities and different ways people think and go about things there are? Get used to it.
Also, I got this neighbor who puts his garbage to the curb the night before and in the plastic bags. Not even in a freakin' can. Well, the animals tear it up overnight and there is trash blowing all over the place in morning.
Any suggestions? Heh heh..
Todd,
C'mon man "inconsequential?" You should use words he/she can understand man.....:-)
Have a nice day.
CD
LitterHater,
How does it feel not being invited to parties?
LitterHater, these are trolls. The refuse of society. You are wasting your time trying to reason with them. Just block them like everyone else. This is the only joy they will have in life.
That would only be true if the English language did not contain figures of speech. For instance, if I were to say "You are as ignorant as a box of hammers", most people who understand English would know what I imply, even though hammers are not sentient and therefore incapable of thought, much less ignorant thought.
Family gets Resolution? You mean like Frivolous Lawsuit.
Bases for the lawsuit: Airline did not offer any complementary peanuts and Oxygen Mask.
4 IHatemyLitterofbrats & AmIHuman?.
"Lighten up, Francis."
if you block the trolls ...you'll be alone
@Human-4637934 and littlehater
If this is possibly my only enjoyment in life then who are you to try to take that away from me. I'm not happy that this man died but if you pull a moronic stunt like this it should be expected that someones gonna make fun of it. Besides he doesn't know about the jokes and his family hasn't been notified if he has one so they won't know either. pull your head out of your arse and let me be me.
♩♪♫♬... I've gotta be me.....♩♫♩♬
I don't think rainman is really all that offended..
10 minutes till Wopner.
It's David Bowie
The Man Who Fell To Earth?
TFNJ thanks for some reason I couldn't get the David Bowie reference.
I just happen to see it on the Netflix browse list not to long ago. LOL
What a way to go...must of been truly frightening.
He was already dead before the fall skyler,
maybe read the story for a change before commenting on it, I doubt that being
crushed by landing gear is all that great of a hollywood-death for you and your
violence-glamourizing generation you testicle.
Wowee, what a perfect hypocrite!
@littlehater; what the heck is mommy putting in your dam lunchbox??
Litter Hater must have been the hated one out of his litter. hhhaaawh hawh hawh. and a hypocrite. hhhaaawh hawh hawh.
who cares. there's enough people in angola to go around!
Littlehater might be right here. This guy could have been killed, then "stuffed" into the wheel well.
litterhater = PUNKED
JPreston,
that's about as callous a response as there is (#9.5). Hopefully, you'll acquire a heart before long........ That was somebody's baby, brother, friend, etc. He was a human being; you should try it.....
J Preston 83, There are a lot of people here in America too, but I hope none of us die like that. We can all show compassion for our fellowman, because we are all considered humanbeings in God's sight.
HMMMMM. 20 thousand comedians out of work and you're all auditioning here. What a wonderful group of bloggers.. That is what comedians do isn't it? Branded humor at the expense of anyone and everyone..
Davemo,
re: post 9.10
When people do something exceptional- exceptionally desperate, exceptionally stupid etc...- then they bring themselves to public attention and open themselves to all manner of joking or mockery. Such is life. The worse it is the more people will joke about it (as long as it doesn't hit too close to home). It is called gallows humor, and is one of the very few ways we humans have to make tragedies bearable. If this had happened to someone else the victim would be cracking the jokes. I spent 3 1/2 years mainly doing military funerals, sometimes several a day, depending on the honors given. Gallows humor is one of the few things that made the job bearable, and it didn't mean we had anything other than the deepest respect for the deceased or the family. It was simply a coping mechanism that helped to keep one from blowing their brains out to avoid the overwhelming sadness day after day. Much of this joking is the same thing. You may want to remember that for when the time comes in your life that the gallows humor mechanism can help you. Never forget that the deceased also had a sense of humor.
1d10t. He should have come to the US to get free Obamaphones, free health care, free food stamps, free housing, free broadband, free cable, free heating, free airconditioners, free cash....I mean free for HIM...I of course have to dig into my pocket at a overall 31% tax rate and 33 % marginal rate to pay for losers like this. No problem, send more in, Obsama is raising my taxes to 39%,my capital gains to 20%. That guy could even have been president here. God knows he had more brains than the current one....
Clown.
fox news overdose.
You know....there was an article in the November Newsweek, and it asked the question: "why is it that dumb people hate President Obama?" Miaw, perhaps you could answer that for us, hmmm :-)
No, he's not smart enough to.
miau- another frustrated republican. this is not a political forum, the elections are over. Take your frustration elsewhere. LOL
Newsweek is a liberal rag, so it's no wonder they would run a question like that. How about all the DUMB people who voted for him and his polices that will send this country down the drain? I now understand how hard it is to place your hand over your heart and respect this country while it is extended waiting for a hand-out.
Free cable?? Where is this????
I was paying over $1,200. a month before I had to let it go. $150.00/month for a bundle.
Correction: Paying over $1,200. a year.
And free heating? Free Air Conditioner???? WHERE IS THIS?????
Batman and robin couldn't save you from paying taxes. LOSERS. Hail to the Chief!!! LOL
Retaining the White House and gaining seats in the senate and the congress makes us WINNERS.
Losing the White House and losing seats in the congress and the senate makes you LOSERS.
Drown on your own venom.
Considering listening to the mindless sheeple Obama voters talk after this election (I got my free phone!) and back in 2008 during an interview that can be found on Googling "How Obama Got Elected" and their answers on who controlled congress in 2008 (Democrats had both chambers at the time, but the brainiacs said Republicans), I'd say the most clueless in America vote Democrat. And that's by design, to be sure. An ignorant dumb mass is an easily duped and controlled dumb mass. And then there's the left wing main stream media like DNCNN and MSNBC telling them all what to think....
Too bad we don't have a legitimate news source like Fox Propaganda to educate us like you (I got my free phone!) do!
Hey Rokchok let's instate a poll test before voting. I dare ya. If a person can't keep their act together enough to present a voter ID do you think they can pass a poll test? Now, why do you think one party supported mandatory voter Id laws while the other vigorously opposed it?
Something like this happened near Boston a couple of years ago.
"Something like this happened near Boston a couple of years ago."... Probably trying to escape Boston!
Something like this happened in Alabama too... rope broke
i remember the one who fell from the sky in long island NY ,ironically he hit the side of a hospital upon impact,he looked like a rolled up snotball &"splatter matter"
@laztstrall, "WOW"
I saw an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" or similar where a guy had been hanging around a small airport, trying to get a flight anywhere, from anybody. He was seen climbing onto the wing of a not-that-big-of-an-airplane as it started its takeoff roll. He fell off when the plane was climbing out, maybe a couple of hundred feet off the ground. Nobody knew him, and they were trying to ID him. This was not in a remote area - Southern California or Las Vegas, as I recall.
This happened quite a few times as Saigon was falling to the commies in the 1970's. It happened enough that the airliners were kept at lower altitudes "just in case". Hell, jets were taking off with people clinging onto the wings, only to be blown off as speed and altitude increased.
You have to be really desperate to do something like that!
SkyFall! Playing at an Airport Near You!
Wonder why he was going all the way to UK?
Let's see...To escape poverty, disease, hunger, war, oppresive government...just to name a few
i guess no one told him that theres no air at over 30,000 ft not to mention not much room in the landing gear bay.
"Wonder why he was going all the way to UK?"... It was on his way to New York!
Maybe he's an NFL player
Too soon
Alan-1863757 He was a doped up cyclist. You know death changes ones color, and so does drugs.
Obama's half-brother?
Cybercraig,
No, his illegal aunt and drunken uncle are alive and well and are living at yours' and my expense.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/12161-obama%E2%80%99s-illegal-alien-uncle-received-stay-of-deportation
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-relentless-conservative/the-continuing-saga-of-ob_b_990291.html
too bad they all couldn't arrive that way
They who gunowner 45?
Gunrunner 45, You did arrive brain-dead, does that count.
One must remember the fall dose not kill you It's the sudden stop that kills.
Somebody needs to educate people who would climb into wheel wells of jets.
At cruise altitude, it's 60 degrees below zero, very low pressure and not enough oxygen to live. Plus on most jets, you would be immediately crushed by the hydraulic retraction mechanisms when the wheels go up.
I don't think we need to waste time/money educating people about that. For the same reason we don't need to educate people that eating rat poison or playing russian roulette is dangerous...
flylowguy
I have a feeling that most people in sub-saharan africa don't know the dangers of being in a depressurized compartment 30,000 ft above sea level.
Flylowguy:
Educating people in that matter would not do any good. Africa has a dictatorial government where there are only two social classes: The very rich and the extreme poor. That kind of information would never reach the latter.
That must have been on horrible death, though.
Too bas for this guy. Can we get Obama to try this?
Nazi, you go first.
Oh....go fillibuster yerself!!! :-)
The Republicans don't have to do it, they're dead already.
TruthBeTold61
- Nazi's are eco-wacko socialist just like you. Try learning some History - idiot!
Yikes! What a horrible way to die - as though there is a good way! Very sad!
People who say, "Why didn't he just buy a ticket?"........immigration laws are really difficult here. People who are leaving out of fear from their own country, don't have a way to "just buy a ticket."
That's why I fly Coach.
I know this man. His name is Pinball.
Nick Cage threw him out
It's no fun being and illegal ALIUN !
Wow, now it's raining angels?
Oh...it was an Angolian.
David Bowie