A STOWAWAY was found dead inside the landing gear of an American Airlines plane after it touched down.

The grim discovery was made at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina , at around 9am local time on Sunday morning, police said.

Airport staff were carrying out routine maintenance on the plane, which had recently arrived from Europe .

It was during this procedure that they came across the body in the landing gear compartment.

The person was pronounced dead at the scene by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers.

A spokesperson for American Airlines said they were "working with law enforcement on its investigation ".

Anyone with information should call 01-704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a detective.

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