Afghan Teen Survives 94 Minutes in Plane’s Landing Gear

In a shocking incident that has raised serious security questions, a 13-year-old Afghan boy miraculously survived a 94-minute flight hidden in the landing gear of a Kam Air plane traveling from Kabul to New Delhi.

The teenager, identified as being from Kunduz province, is believed to have slipped into the rear wheel well of Kam Air flight RQ-4401 before takeoff from Kabul. For the entire journey, which lasted just over an hour and a half, he endured freezing temperatures, crushing pressure, and a lack of oxygen – conditions that are often fatal for stowaways.

Upon landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, airline staff were startled to find the boy wandering near the aircraft. Authorities quickly took him into custody for questioning. According to officials, the teenager claimed he boarded the plane purely out of curiosity, with no larger motive.

Following the discovery, the aircraft underwent a complete inspection to rule out any threats. Security agencies later cleared the plane for continued operations. The boy was sent back to Kabul later that same day on Kam Air’s return flight.

Aviation experts note that survival in an aircraft’s wheel well is extremely rare. Stowaways in such compartments are usually exposed to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), hypothermia, frostbite, and the constant risk of being crushed by the landing gear. The Afghan boy’s survival is being described as nothing short of miraculous.

The case has highlighted a worrying breach of security at Kabul airport, raising questions about how a child was able to access a restricted area and conceal himself inside an aircraft without detection. Authorities are now under pressure to tighten safety and security checks to prevent similar incidents in the future.