13-Year-Old Afghan Boy Survives Near-Impossible Flight in Plane’s Wheel Well, Lands in Delhi Instead of Iran
Afghan Teen Stowaway Survives 94-Minute Flight To Delhi Hidden In Plane’s Rear Wheel Well: In an extraordinary and alarming incident, a 13-year-old Afghan boy survived a 94-minute flight from Kabul to Delhi while hiding in the rear wheel well of a KAM Air flight (RQ4401). The boy, who intended to flee to Iran, mistakenly boarded the flight to India and was discovered wandering in a restricted area at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3. Airport officials detained and questioned him, uncovering the shocking details of his stowaway journey. The incident has raised serious concerns about security measures at Kabul International Airport.
According to aviation experts, surviving in a wheel well is nearly impossible due to freezing temperatures and a lack of oxygen at high altitudes. The plane flew at an altitude of 30,000 feet, where temperatures can plummet to -60°C and oxygen levels are dangerously low. Experts believe the boy may have found a partially enclosed section of the wheel bay that protected him. Captain Mohan Ranganathan explained that once the wheel bay door closes mid-air, it may create a pressurized zone similar to the passenger cabin, which could possibly explain his miraculous survival.
This case marks the second time someone has survived a flight by hiding in a wheel well to or from an Indian airport. In 1996, two brothers attempted a similar escape from Delhi to London. One survived, but the other tragically died upon landing. Medical professionals warn that such attempts are extremely dangerous, with only a 20% survival rate. Authorities have confirmed that no legal action will be taken against the Afghan boy due to his age, but the breach has triggered a review of airport security protocols in Kabul.
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