Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Families identify bodies found in JetBlue plane's landing gear at FLL

According to BSO, detectives met with investigators in the Dominican Republic and the family members of the deceased individuals

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Family members have identified the two people who were found in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane earlier this month at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Family members have identified the two people who were found in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane earlier this month at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The two bodies were discovered on Jan. 7 during a "routine post-flight maintenance inspection," JetBlue said.

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The Broward Sheriff's Office on Wednesday said deputies traveled to the Dominican Republic to continue their investigation and meet with family members.

Elvis Borquez Castillo and Jeik Anilus Lusi were identified as the bodies found in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane in January 2025.
Courtesy
Elvis Borquez Castillo and Jeik Anilus Lusi were identified as the bodies found in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane in January 2025.

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Jeik Anilus Lusi and Elvis Borquez Castillo were identified by their mother through photographs. Margarita Luisi Elisma, Lusi's mother, confirmed to NBC6 on Wednesday that she and Castillo's mother, Ironelis Castillo, met with BSO to confirm their identities.

Authorities also confirmed their causes of death were asphyxiation, or lack of oxygen. How they got into the plane is still under investigation.

The mothers provided DNA samples to deputies to conclude the final investigation.

Ironelis Castillo told NBC6 earlier this month that her son left the Dominican Republic on Jan. 4. and is confident about when he left because a neighborhood driver told her he took her son to a nearby airport. But since then, there has been no communication between the two.

According to FlightAware, on Jan. 5, that particular plane made a stop in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

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