A 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan survived a dangerous flight from Kabul to Delhi after hiding in the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air passenger plane.
The teenager, reportedly from Kunduz city, traveled undetected on flight RQ-4401, which landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 11 am on Sunday, according to Indian news agency PTI.
The boy’s stunt was discovered when he wandered near the aircraft after landing. Airline staff detained and handed him over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who escorted him to Terminal 3 for questioning.
Officials say the boy told them he had snuck into the rear central landing gear compartment “out of curiosity.”
A two-hour journey in extreme conditions
The boy spent an almost two-hour flight at an altitude of 36,000 feet in the cramped, unpressurized landing gear area. Experts warn that stowing away in landing gear compartments is extremely dangerous. Temperatures drop below freezing at cruising altitudes, and oxygen levels are low.
Aviation safety experts note that stowaways who make it through such flights are often unconscious during landing, which puts them at serious risk of falling when the landing gear is deployed. Despite these hazards, the boy survived the flight without serious injury.
Kam Air staff later inspected the plane’s landing gear compartment and recovered a small red-colored audio speaker, believed to belong to the boy. Anti-sabotage checks were carried out before the aircraft was cleared for its next flight.
Boy’s motive and mistaken destination
The Indian Express reported that the boy had intended to travel to Iran and did not realize the flight was headed to Delhi.
He sneaked into Kabul airport, followed a group of passengers, and hid inside the rear wheel well of the plane. Officials said he carried only the small red speaker with him.
During questioning, the boy reiterated that his actions were motivated by curiosity, PTI reported. After being detained and questioned, he was deported back to Kabul on the same aircraft on Sunday.
Kam Air and airport security have reviewed procedures following the incident to prevent future stowaways.
Stowaways and the risks they face
While rare, incidents of stowaways hiding in commercial planes occur worldwide, often involving passengers fleeing difficult conditions in their home countries. Survival is not guaranteed.
In 2022, a 22-year-old Kenyan man was found alive in the wheel well of a cargo plane in Amsterdam.