Los Angeles ? A man was found dead in the wheel well of a British Airways airplane Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport, airport officials said.

A British Airways pilot found the body during a routine preflight check and notified airport officials about 4:30 p.m. The 747-400 had arrived in Los Angeles from London Heathrow airport at 3:15 p.m. and was to depart again for London at 5:20 p.m.

Authorities had not identified the man late Friday but said he was a “young black male.” Law enforcement and aviation officials at the scene had not determined whether he got into the aircraft in London or a previous departure point.

There have been several incidents in recent years of people climbing into airplane wheel wells – usually ending in death, authorities say.

A body was found in a plane that landed Jan. 12 in Atlanta. The man, who carried no identification, was believed to have entered the compartment when the plane left Dakar, Senegal, for the nine-hour flight to Atlanta.

Extreme cold and lack of oxygen in the wheel wells make the odds of survival slim. Stowaways also have fallen from the wheel wells or been crushed by the landing gear.