Photo: Eduardo Ramos Castaneda / Moment / Getty Images
A 13-year-old boy from Kunduz, Afghanistan, survived a perilous journey by hiding in the landing gear of a Kam Air passenger plane. The boy traveled approximately 720 miles from Kabul to Delhi, India, where he was discovered wandering the runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday (September 22).
According to People, the boy intended to travel to Iran but mistakenly boarded a flight to Delhi. He was found by airport staff and taken in for questioning by the Central Industrial Security Force.
The boy reportedly told the police that he hid in the rear central landing gear compartment out of curiosity. A small red audio speaker was found in the area where he had hidden.
The authorities later returned him to Kabul on the same aircraft.
The journey was fraught with danger, as stowaways in landing gear compartments face extreme risks. According to the BBC, temperatures can drop significantly, and oxygen levels become dangerously low at high altitudes.
The boy's survival is a rare occurrence, as CNN notes that many stowaways do not survive the journey due to the harsh conditions. The Federal Aviation Administration reports a 77% mortality rate for such stowaways.