Man found in luggage compartment of E190

[Greg McDonald]

A Jetblue Airways Embraer ERJ-190, flight B6-1004 from New York JFK,NY to Boston,MA (USA), had reached the parking position at Boston, the luggage was to be unloaded, when the luggage handlers discovered a man in the cargo compartment and called police.

The police reported, that the man (21) identified himself as a Jetblue employee working as luggage handler at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, who had involuntarily been locked into the compartment. According to the man's testimony the man was working in the luggage compartment, when he realized the airplane was no longer on the ground and phoned his company.

Boston Airport reported, that the man was found asleep in the cargo compartment. The workers called police, who took the man into custody, but released him after he was identified. The man refused medical treatment and was sent back to New York - this time not in the cargo compartment.

Jetblue officially confirmed the incident, but refused further comment stating that an investigation is underway. A Jetblue official however hinted, that the man fell asleep before takeoff while working in the cargo compartment. It is being investigated whether the employee was accidentally locked in by co-workers. The cargo compartment is pressurized.

The airplane's maximum cruise altitude was 17000 feet MSL during the 37 minutes flight.

[Daniel M]

Very easy to fall asleep in those compartments, let me tell you. Alot comfier than the 737 holds

[Raymond Rowe]

Dc9 cargo hold were another bad one for falling a sleep in.Especially when adjustments were being made to the cargo door and you were locked in for three hours.

[Peter D]

Wait so is the cargo hold pressurised?
Because if it isn't then how did he survive at 17,000 feet?
I know this may be a really stupid question but I'm unsure.
Is it correct that there's not enough oxygen to breathe above 10,000 feet?

[Rhys Xanthis]

I thought the hold was pressurised but unheated, unless animals were being transported in which case the heaters are turned on.

[Raymond Rowe]

Originally Posted by Rhys Xanthis

I thought the hold was pressurised but unheated, unless animals were being transported in which case the heaters are turned on.

The Cargo compartments are pressurised but the front Locker does get heated. The rear hold is only heated if animals are carried.