Stowaway found dead after falling from British Airways plane

[A Life Aloft]

Tucson BP Air, Tactical Medical Ops. This is just what we do. Just our job.

For you and others of your ilk, (and by this I mean, those in service to humanity and their country's citizens- Military, Fire Department, Search and Rescue, Border Patrol, all LEOs, EMTs/Paramedics, Lifeguards-etc.) this is far more than just a job or just a career. Fortunately and gratefully for those of us who may need your services or know others that will, it's a calling. It's not every man or woman who can perform these tasks, have the skills, cope with the stresses, have the courage and the fortitude, endure what they have to, see and experience some really horrendous - sometimes life changing events, the difficult and often dangerous situations, be so committed and unwavering in their duty 24/7, and risk their lives for others, whom they do not even know.

 

[Muff3n]

When you fly out of Africa, we have pickups on either side of the aircraft watching for people springing out of the tall grass and trying to stow away in the landing gear well.

It's a big problem and that's one of the ways we try to mitigate it.

People around the world live in some very hopeless squalid conditions and will do what they think they have to do and incur fatal risks to try to make it to better conditions.

It can be beautiful as a visitor, but disease, civil war, tribalism… ehh, you never know if the shoes were on the other foot, we wouldn't be doing the same thing.

Wow, this is pretty eye opening. That would be pretty sad to know here you are in this flying machine, making good money, living comfortably, and there could be people just outside in the grass willing to risk it all just for a chance to ride with you to greener pastures that you can so effortlessly go to. It is mighty sad there are places that folks would want to leave that bad. We sure do have it made here in the good ole' USA. Sometimes folks need to slow down and realize just how fortunate we were to be born or immigrate into this country.

I don't know if I would call these people "victims" as others have debated. It is a terribly sad situation. I do feel like they may not understand fully what they are getting themselves into. The vast majority of them probably have no education about the harsh temperatures and lack of oxygen at altitude. That being said, they still know they are getting in a great amount of danger by trying to cling onto a flying machine that is going to be 7 miles up and fly for thousands of miles. It doesn't take any type of education to know that is very risky.

 

[texas_pilot]

Wow, this is pretty eye opening. That would be pretty sad to know here you are in this flying machine, making good money, living comfortably, and there could be people just outside in the grass willing to risk it all just for a chance to ride with you to greener pastures that you can so effortlessly go to. It is mighty sad there are places that folks would want to leave that bad. We sure do have it made here in the good ole' USA. Sometimes folks need to slow down and realize just how fortunate we were to be born or immigrate into this country.

I don't know if I would call these people "victims" as others have debated. It is a terribly sad situation. I do feel like they may not understand fully what they are getting themselves into. The vast majority of them probably have no education about the harsh temperatures and lack of oxygen at altitude. That being said, they still know they are getting in a great amount of danger by trying to cling onto a flying machine that is going to be 7 miles up and fly for thousands of miles. It doesn't take any type of education to know that is very risky.

I agree most don't understand- prolly word of mouth stating how previous successful attempts are now legends living large because they were brave enough to try.