Stowaway Under Jet Still Mute on Reason

Doctors say the man who survived the 7 1/2-hour flight from French Polynesia inside the wheel well of an Air France jumbo jet is in good condition, eating and drinking, but hasn’t revealed his reasons for risking his life to reach Los Angeles.

The man, who can write and understand English, has had good vital signs since Friday, and doctors expected to release him by Sunday.

However, he remained in the hospital to undergo testing for brain damage and still faces questioning by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Hospital officials said they hope the man will cooperate with federal authorities.

“We are trying to get him to work with them . . . and get a solution,” said Kevin Hamman, UCLA Medical Center nurse staffing coordinator.

The man, whose name, age and nationality have not been released, arrived at UCLA Medical Center Thursday night suffering severe hypothermia with a body temperature of 79 degrees. A body temperature below 85 degrees can be fatal.

Authorities say the man withstood temperatures of 50-below zero inside the nonpressurized and unheated wheel well during the 3,700-mile trip from Papeete, French Polynesia, to the Los Angeles International Airport.

Airline maintenance workers spotted the man in the wheel well of Air France’s Flight 71 after the plane landed about 8 p.m.

Firefighters pulled him out and had to force him onto a stretcher because he was thrashing about.

The man, who was described as being in good physical shape, spent Thursday night under heat lamps and special blankets. His condition was upgraded to good by midday Friday and remained there through the weekend, hospital officials said.

“He has no negative symptoms from hypothermia,” Hamman said. “Although we are still trying to run some mental tests. . . . He’s still not communicating with us.”