A 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan miraculously survived a flight from Kabul to New Delhi after hiding in the landing gear compartment of a passenger aircraft, authorities said.
The teen reportedly sneaked into Kabul airport and climbed into the rear wheel well of a Kam Air flight, mistakenly believing it was bound for Iran. Instead, the plane was heading to India, covering roughly 620 miles at an altitude of more than 36,000 feet.
When the aircraft landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport around 11 a.m. on Sunday, staff noticed the boy—still in his pajamas—wandering near the plane. He was quickly detained and handed over to India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
During questioning, the boy revealed that he had acted out of curiosity and did not realize the dangers of hiding in the aircraft’s landing gear. Authorities later deported him back to Afghanistan on the same aircraft later that day.
Officials said the boy endured dangerously low oxygen levels and freezing conditions during the flight. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), at least 132 people attempted similar stowaway journeys in aircraft wheel wells between 1947 and 2021, with a survival rate of just 23%.
Experts note that at altitudes of 30,000 to 40,000 feet, unpressurized compartments can expose stowaways to life-threatening hypothermia and oxygen deprivation. Many also face severe injuries upon landing.
Following the incident, Kam Air security and engineering staff conducted a detailed inspection of the aircraft. They found a small red-colored speaker, believed to belong to the boy, in the landing gear compartment. The aircraft was later cleared after thorough anti-sabotage checks.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about airport security and the extreme risks young stowaways take in search of adventure or escape.
