Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Photo: Philp Lemonte

She made the statement in a post to social media in response to reports that the deceased are believed to be Jamaicans.

“We have noted distressing reports in the media regarding the discovery of two deceased persons in the wheel well of an aircraft in Fort Lauderdale. While there is speculation regarding the nationalities of the persons found, our information to date is that this matter still remains unclear and there is no immediate basis on which to conclude that they are Jamaicans.

“We therefore remain in contact with the relevant authorities and will update the public as soon as greater clarity and accuracy has been brought to bear on this tragic matter,” Johnson Smith said.

According to a report from CNN, the airline on Tuesday said the bodies were discovered during a post-flight maintenance inspection after it operated as Flight 1801 from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The airline also stated that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the circumstances of how the now-deceased accessed the plane.