A 13-Year-Old Afghan Boy Survives Flight to India by Hiding in Plane’s Landing Gear
On September 21, 2025, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport witnessed a shocking discovery. A 13-year-old boy from Kunduz, Afghanistan, managed to survive a perilous 90-minute journey from Kabul by hiding inside the landing gear of a Kam Air flight.
Authorities were stunned to find the young boy wandering near the aircraft after landing. He later admitted that he had climbed into the wheel-well out of curiosity, mistakenly believing the flight was headed to Tehran. What he didn’t anticipate were the deadly conditions he would face—freezing temperatures and dangerously low oxygen levels at high altitude.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) immediately took him into custody for questioning. Airport staff also recovered a small red speaker from the landing gear, believed to belong to the boy. Thankfully, he survived the ordeal with no visible injuries, but officials quickly arranged for his repatriation back to Afghanistan the same day.
The Deadly Risks of Stowaway Attempts
This incident highlights the grave dangers of stowing away in an aircraft’s landing gear. The wheel-well of a plane is not designed for human survival—it is exposed to extreme cold, little to no oxygen, and crushing mechanical movements when the landing gear retracts. Sadly, many previous stowaway attempts across the world have ended in tragedy.
Aviation experts often warn that survival in such conditions is almost impossible. According to BBC News ↗, less than 25% of people who attempt such journeys survive. That makes this boy’s survival not just unusual, but near miraculous.
Concerns Over Airport Security
While the boy’s safe return is a relief, the incident raises serious questions about airport security in Kabul. How did a child manage to bypass multiple layers of checks and reach the aircraft’s landing gear? This loophole could have been exploited by those with more dangerous intentions, putting aviation safety at risk.
Human Curiosity, Desperation, and Hope
At the heart of the story is a child who acted out of sheer curiosity, unaware of the risks involved. While his actions endangered his life, they also reflect the innocence—and desperation—that often drives such decisions in troubled regions.
This case is a reminder for governments and airlines alike: beyond the technical focus on aviation safety, there is also a need to address the social and economic issues that push people—especially children—to take such extreme measures.
The 13-year-old boy from Kunduz may have survived against the odds, but his story is a sobering wake-up call for both aviation authorities and society at large. While it’s a tale of survival, it’s also a warning—stowaway journeys are not just dangerous, they’re almost always fatal.
For more global updates like this, explore the Global News section on Prime Curators ↗
