British Airways in South Africa is working with UK authorities to investigate how two suspected stowaways got on to a flight from Johannesburg to London.

“We are working with the London metro [Metropolitan Police] and authorities in Johannesburg to establish the facts surrounding this very rare situation,” said Stephen Forbes, speaking on behalf of BA in South Africa.

Earlier, the Airports Company of SA described it is a tragic situation.

“As this is a very serious, Airports Company South Africa is working closely with the South African Police Services to fully investigate the matter and establish the facts relating to the incident,” said Acsa spokesperson Colin Naidoo.

“The authorities in London are investigating the matter and making efforts to establish the identity of the stowaways and it is believed that one of the stowaways is a male aged between 25 and 30 years and is at a West London hospital in a serious condition.”

Naidoo said Acsa is working with the police because it is a “criminal matter”.

“It’s tragic. We will thoroughly investigate the facts and reasons,” he told News24.

This comes after it was reported earlier by SkyNews that one man had died after falling from a plane on to the roof of a shop in West London. The BA flight was from Johannesburg to London.

The second man was found unconscious on the plane after it landed.

On its website, The Guardian quoted a Scotland Yard spokesperson as saying that UK police were called at 09:35 on Thursday to Kew Road, Richmond, after reports that a body had been discovered. News24