Police solve death riddle of man who fell from plane

 
E-fit: A police image of the man who fell from a Heathrow-bound plane
Nick Hodgson12 April 2013

The mystery over the identity of the man who fell to his death from the undercarriage of a plane as it flew over west London has been solved.

The stowaway was found in Portman Avenue, Mortlake, in September last year, but officers had been unable to establish who he was.

They had originally thought he was Angolan because of currency found in his pockets and the fact that a flight from Luanda, Angola had passed over shortly before the body was found.

A SIM card was found in the man’s jeans and after contacting the phone numbers stored on it officers were able to establish the man was 30-year-old Jose Matada, from Mozambique.

Officers are now working with authorities in Mozambique to try to find his next of kin.

Mr Matada was not a member of the plane crew or a passenger.

A post-mortem examination found he died from multiple injuries and an inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Detectives investigating an incident where a body fell from the undercarriage of an incoming flight to Heathrow airport in September 2012 have now identified the man involved.

“Following a complex inquiry in which new information has recently come to light, detectives are satisfied the deceased is 30-year-old Jose Matada.

“Detectives originally thought Matada was Angolan, but following analysis of a sim card found in his jeans they were able to extract telephone numbers stored on it.

“After contacting the numbers, detectives received information that Matada was from Mozambique.

“It was thought Matada was from Angola as he was found with Angolan currency in his possession and enquiries established that a flight from Luanda in Angola was overhead prior to the body being found.”

A neighbour said at the time of the death: “I just felt sorry for the guy. Whatever he was trying to escape from must have been horrendous to do that.”

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