Aerospace

Unsuccessful attempt: body found in the aircraft landing gear

Yesterday a body of a man was discovered underneath a KLM flight that had arrived in Amsterdam from Lagos, Nigeria, prompting police to launch an investigation. After a nearly seven-hour flight from Nigeria to the Netherlands. The man was discovered in the landing gear wheel. Unfortunately, he died of hypothermia during the flight.

A spokesperson for the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee said “The man had holed up in the wheel arch of the aircraft. During the flight, the low temperatures are likely to have killed him.”

The police added that they were looking into the incident to determine the man’s identity and cause of death.

We doen onderzoek naar het aantreffen van een stoffelijk overschot in het landingsgestel van een vliegtuig, afkomstig uit Lagos (Nigeria). @KMar_PenB_SPL en forensische opsporing van de Marechaussee doen dit ter vaststelling identiteit en doodsoorzaak. pic.twitter.com/SPZnhhkMlV
— Koninklijke Marechaussee (@Marechaussee) April 19, 2021
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Migrants often attempt to enter Europe by hiding on planes, especially in the wheel arches. If they make it through the perilous trip, they will apply for asylum.

In a related situation, in February this year, a 16-year-old Kenyan boy hid in the landing gear of a plane flying from London to Maastricht Aachen Airport.

Passenger tries to rip plane door open after missing his flight

Related Topics:Amsterdam kenya KLM lagos netherlands

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.