A 13-year-old Afghan boy has survived a perilous journey after hiding inside the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air flight from Kabul to Delhi, sources reported. The boy, identified as a native of Kunduz, reached Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early Sunday morning on 21st September 2025, was detained, and deported back to Afghanistan later that day.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the boy sneaked into Kabul airport and managed to stow away in the rear central wheel well (landing gear compartment) of Kam Air Flight RQ-4401. The flight departed at dawn and landed in Delhi after approximately 90 to 120 minutes in the air.
He was spotted by airport staff on arrival roaming near the aircraft, and was handed over to CISF officials for questioning. A small red-colored speaker, which he carried, was recovered from the landing gear compartment.
Survival and Risk
Traveling in a wheel-well is extremely dangerous. Temperatures at cruising altitude can drop well below −40°C, and oxygen levels are insufficient for human survival without pressurization. Many such attempts end in tragedy due to hypothermia, hypoxia or injury from mechanical parts of the landing gear. Despite those risks, the Afghani 13 years old boy survived the journey unscathed.
Legal and Security Response
Once he was identified, the boy was detained by airline security, then by CISF. After interrogation, the Indian authorities decided to repatriate him to Kabul that same Sunday. The aircraft underwent thorough safety and anti-sabotage inspections before being cleared.
No official indication so far suggests the boy had any organized support for the journey; he reportedly said he hid in the landing gear “out of curiosity.”
What It Means and Broader Implications
- Airport security challenges: Incidents like these expose vulnerabilities in airport perimeter and apron security, especially in airports where stowaways attempt access. Authorities may increase surveillance and security patrols.
- Human desperation or risk behavior: Even though this case seems driven by curiosity, similar acts are often motivated by desperation, hazardous migration, or belief in better opportunities. The survival rate in wheel-well attempts is low.
- Legal / humanitarian questions: For minors undertaking such dangerous journeys, there are ethical and legal considerations about treatment, rights, repatriation, and whether any protective services are offered.
- Operational delays / safety inspections: Following the discovery, Kam Air and airport authorities carried out safety checks that delayed operations and required coordination between airline, CISF and immigration officials. Such events can cause significant logistical complications.
FAQs
A: He is a 13-year-old native of Kunduz, Afghanistan, who reportedly stowed away in the rear landing gear (wheel well) of a Kabul-Delhi Kam Air flight, saying he did so out of curiosity.
A: Yes, he survived without serious injury. He was detained upon arrival at IGI Airport, questioned by security personnel, then deported back to Kabul later the same day.
A: High risks include extreme cold, lack of oxygen (hypoxia), risk of falling or being crushed by landing gear during retraction, and exposure to severe weather. Most attempts do not succeed.
The case of the Afghani 13 years old boy serves as both a rare survival story and a reminder of the lengths to which some will go, either through curiosity or more desperate motives. Airport authorities are likely to review protocols to prevent recurrence.
