13-year-old Afghan boy travels to Delhi in aircraft landing gear, returns same day

13-year-old Afghan boy hides in plane's landing gear for 2 hours, lands in Delhi (File image)

A 13-year-old Afghan boy arrived in Delhi after secretly hiding in the landing gear compartment of a flight from Kabul, an attempt officials attributed to his “curiosity.” The incident came to light when KAM Airlines flight RQ-4401 landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 11:10 am after a two-hour journey.

Airport personnel noticed the boy wandering near the aircraft after landing. He was quickly apprehended by airline staff and handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who took him to Terminal 3 for questioning.

The boy, a resident of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, explained that he had sneaked into the restricted area at Kabul airport and climbed into the rear central landing gear compartment of the aircraft. This method, known globally as a “wheel-well stowaway,” involves hiding in the aircraft’s undercarriage or wheel bay.

During an inspection of the landing gear, airline security and engineering teams recovered a small red audio speaker, reportedly carried by the boy. After completing the necessary procedures, he was sent back to Kabul the same day on KAM Airlines’ return flight, RQ-4402, which departed around 12:30 pm.

CISF officials said the boy had successfully managed to board the aircraft without a ticket and survive the high-altitude journey, which lasted approximately 94 minutes. The aircraft underwent a thorough inspection and anti-sabotage checks before being cleared for further operations.