New Delhi: In a daring and life-threatening escapade reminiscent of a high-stakes thriller, a 13-year-old Afghan boy miraculously survived a perilous journey from Kabul to Delhi, stowed away in the landing gear of a Kam Air flight.
The incident, which unfolded at Indira Gandhi International Airport, has sparked serious concerns over aviation security while highlighting the desperate ‘Dunki’ routes migrants take to flee conflict zones.
The boy, hailing from Kunduz city, hid in the wheel well of flight RQ4401, enduring a 94-minute ordeal in sub-zero temperatures plummeting to -60°C and near-zero oxygen levels.
Discovered shivering but found alive by security personnel upon landing, he confessed during questioning that his intended destination was Iran, but he boarded the wrong plane.
Authorities from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) promptly repatriated him to Afghanistan.
Experts explain that the landing gear compartment — a cramped 6 ft by 4 ft by 3 ft space designed solely for wheels — offers no seats, windows, or climate control. As the aircraft ascends, freezing cold and hypoxia pose lethal risks; hydraulic systems seal it shut post-takeoff.
Historical data from 1947 to 2020 reveals 126 such stowaway attempts, with only 28 survivors — the rest succumbing to falls, hypothermia, or cabin pressure.
This isn’t isolated: In 1969, a Cuban youth flew safely from Havana to Madrid; in 2014, a Californian teen survived San Jose to Maui. Yet, tragedies abound, like the 1996 death of an Indian man en route to London.
The boy’s survival defies odds, underscoring human desperation amid Afghanistan’s turmoil. Aviation authorities are now probing lapses in perimeter security at Kabul airport.