In a remarkable security incident, a 13-year-old boy from Kunduz, Afghanistan, managed to travel to Delhi by hiding in the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air flight departing from Kabul. This unusual event was uncovered when the aircraft arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) around 11:10 AM.

Authorities reported that the young boy successfully infiltrated Kabul airport and crawled into the rear wheel well of the plane, a cramped and unpressurized area designed for aircraft machinery rather than human passengers.

Upon landing in Delhi, airline staff and ground crew were astonished to find the boy wandering near the aircraft on the taxiway. He was promptly apprehended and taken into custody by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for questioning at Terminal 3.

During the interrogation, the teenager explained that his actions were driven by curiosity, as he wanted to discover the destination of the flight. Remarkably, he exhibited no significant injuries or trauma, which is uncommon for such perilous high-altitude journeys where extreme cold and low oxygen levels can be fatal.

After a thorough questioning session, where he detailed how he bypassed security measures at Kabul airport and accessed the aircraft's landing gear, the boy was sent back to Afghanistan on the same day aboard a return Kam Air flight that departed around 12:30 PM.

Airport security teams conducted a comprehensive inspection of the aircraft and its undercarriage, recovering a red portable speaker believed to belong to the boy. Anti-sabotage checks confirmed the aircraft was safe for further operations.

Although rare, incidents involving 'wheel-well stowaways' have been documented globally. Experts warn that temperatures at cruising altitudes can plummet below -50°C, and oxygen levels can become critically low, making survival in such conditions exceedingly unlikely.

The Afghan boy's journey lasted approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, but aviation specialists caution that such attempts pose severe risks and highlight significant weaknesses in airport perimeter security.

This incident recalls previous stowaway cases, including a tragic event in early 2024 when two men were found deceased in the landing gear of a JetBlue aircraft arriving in Florida. A year prior, an Algerian youth narrowly escaped death after hiding in the undercarriage of a plane bound for Paris. In 2021, a Guatemalan man astonishingly survived a similar flight to Miami.

In light of this alarming breach, authorities in both India and Afghanistan are expected to reassess their security protocols, given the potential threats to human life and aircraft safety.