13-Year-Old Afghan Boy Survives Two-Hour Flight Hidden in Landing Gear of Kabul-Delhi Plane

New Delhi — In an extraordinary and highly unusual incident, a 13-year-old Afghan boy was found alive in the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air flight (RQ-4401) that landed in Delhi from Kabul on Sunday morning. The child, reportedly from Kunduz, Afghanistan, had secretly entered Kabul Airport and hid in the rear section of the aircraft before takeoff.

The flight, which lasted nearly two hours, exposed the boy to extreme cold, low oxygen levels, and the severe risk of death. Miraculously, he survived the perilous journey and was discovered by the ground staff at Indira Gandhi International Airport upon landing. Airport security was immediately alerted, and the boy was handed over to the authorities.

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During initial questioning, the young boy revealed that he had boarded the plane out of mere curiosity, without any clear motive to flee or seek asylum. Authorities are now investigating the serious security lapse that allowed a minor to access such a restricted area of the airport undetected.

Officials described the incident as “highly alarming” and emphasized how survival in such conditions — within the plane’s unpressurized and unheated landing gear bay — is “almost impossible.”

Despite the grave danger, the boy escaped without major injuries, astonishing aviation experts and security officials alike.

This rare occurrence has sparked both security concerns and admiration, as many have called the boy’s survival a remarkable testament to his courage, resilience, and the fearless spirit often attributed to the Pashtun (Pathan) people.

Authorities are working with Afghan officials to determine the next steps regarding the boy’s custody and future. Meanwhile, the incident has reignited global discussions around airport security, child vulnerability, and the desperate risks some young individuals are willing to take.