A 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan reportedly survived a flight from Kabul to Delhi by stowing away in the rear landing gear compartment of a commercial aircraft. This extraordinary incident, detailed in various media reports including the BBC and CNN, highlights severe aviation security concerns.
The young boy was discovered on the runway at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday, shortly after a KAM Airlines flight from Kabul landed. He was seen wandering in white pajamas.
Key Takeaways
- A 13-year-old Afghan boy reportedly survived a flight in a plane's landing gear.
- He traveled from Kabul, Afghanistan, to Delhi, India.
- The boy was found on the runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Authorities questioned him and sent him back to Kabul.
- Stowing away in landing gear carries high risks, including death.
Discovery and Initial Reports
Security forces at Delhi's airport found the boy, who is from Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan. He was noticed on the tarmac following the arrival of the KAM Airlines flight. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained him for questioning.
According to a statement from the CISF, obtained by the Indian Express newspaper, the boy was interrogated for several hours. He was then sent back to Kabul at approximately 4 p.m. local time on Sunday.
Fact: Distances and Duration
The flight from Kabul to Delhi covers approximately 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles). The journey typically lasts around 90 minutes.
Boy's Account and Intentions
The BBC reported, citing Indian authorities, that the boy told officials he stowed away out of curiosity. However, an Indian outlet stated that the boy's actual intention was to fly to Tehran, Iran. He was reportedly unaware that the flight was bound for Delhi.
A CISF spokesperson was quoted saying that the child managed to make the journey without being noticed. During a subsequent inspection of the aircraft, a small audio device was found in the landing gear compartment.
"An aircraft security check was conducted by the airline’s security and engineering staff, during which a small red-colored audio speaker was found in the rear landing gear area," the CISF statement indicated.
How the Boy Boarded the Aircraft
Reports suggest the boy entered Kabul airport by sneaking in. He then reportedly blended with a group of passengers. His hiding place was the plane's rear wheel well. He carried only a small red speaker with him during this dangerous journey.
This incident raises serious questions about airport security protocols at Kabul International Airport, particularly concerning unauthorized access to aircraft.
Background: Aviation Security
Airport security aims to prevent unauthorized access to aircraft and restricted areas. Measures include passenger screening, baggage checks, and perimeter security. Incidents of stowaways highlight potential vulnerabilities in these systems, especially in areas like the tarmac and aircraft maintenance zones.
Extreme Dangers of Stowing Away
Hiding in an aircraft's wheel well or other external compartments poses numerous life-threatening risks. These risks include:
- Crushing: The landing gear retracts into the fuselage after takeoff, which can crush anyone in the compartment.
- Hypoxia: At high altitudes, oxygen levels are extremely low. This can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage, or death.
- Hypothermia and Frostbite: Outside temperatures at cruising altitudes can drop to below -50 degrees Celsius (-60 degrees Fahrenheit). This causes severe hypothermia and frostbite.
- Falling: If a person survives the flight, they risk falling from the aircraft when the landing gear extends for landing.
Survival Rates for Stowaways
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has studied the survival rates of individuals who attempt to stow away on aircraft. A 2011 FAA study found that approximately 80 percent of people who hide in plane wheel wells or other external compartments die. The primary causes of death are low oxygen levels and freezing temperatures at high altitudes.
Survival in these conditions is rare, making the Afghan boy's survival particularly notable. Most individuals do not survive the extreme environmental conditions.
Previous Stowaway Incidents
Incidents involving stowaways are not common, but they do occur globally. These events often result in tragic outcomes.
For example, in January of the same year, two bodies were discovered in the wheel well of a JetBlue Airways plane after it landed in Florida. This was the second such incident within weeks.
Earlier, on Christmas Eve, a deceased individual was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane in Hawaii. That flight had originated from Chicago.
International Security Breaches
Beyond the direct dangers, stowaway incidents also highlight security vulnerabilities. In November of the previous year, surveillance footage captured a Russian national successfully boarding a flight from JFK International Airport in New York to France.
The footage, released by the Port Authority of New York, showed Svetlana Dali bypassing gate agents who were checking boarding passes for the Delta Air Lines flight. She also reportedly passed through security earlier in the day undetected, despite being screened and patted down. This incident underscored that security breaches can occur even at major international airports.
These cases emphasize the ongoing challenge of maintaining stringent security measures across global aviation networks. Authorities continually work to prevent unauthorized access to aircraft and ensure passenger safety.
