New Delhi: A 13-year-old Afghan boy shocked aviation authorities by traveling from Kabul to Delhi while hiding in a plane’s landing gear compartment. The dangerous journey, lasting over two hours, came to light on Monday after the Kam Air flight RQ-4401 landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport at 11:00 AM on Sunday. Airport staff noticed the boy near the aircraft upon arrival and immediately alerted security personnel, who handed him over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Unbelievable 😳🚨
A 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan stowed away by hiding in the rear wheel well/landing gear compartment of a plane.
The flight was operated by KAM Air, from Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport to Indira Gandhi Airport Delhi.
He survived the 94-minute journey. pic.twitter.com/KQ5avpErUN
— Mayank (@mayankcdp) September 22, 2025
The boy told officials that he was from Kunduz and had sneaked into the rear landing gear compartment at Kabul airport purely for fun, unaware of the risks involved. Security personnel conducted a thorough inspection of the landing gear and discovered only a small red speaker. Following the discovery, the aircraft underwent comprehensive security checks to ensure safety before further operations.
Being a minor, the boy was not subjected to any legal action. After completing the investigation, authorities sent him back to Afghanistan on the same flight at 12:30 PM on Sunday. The incident has raised serious concerns about airport security and emphasized the importance of strict safety measures at international airports to prevent such breaches.