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Afghan Boy, 13, Survives KabulDelhi Flight in Jet’s Wheel Well

The same-day repatriation, following aircraft clearance, has intensified scrutiny of Kabul airport access.

Overview

  • KAM Air flight RQ-4401, an Airbus A340, departed Kabul around 8:46 am IST and landed in Delhi near 10:20 am after a roughly 94-minute journey with the boy hidden in the rear landing-gear bay.
  • Airline staff spotted him walking in a restricted apron area at IGI Terminal 3; CISF detained the minor, who was then questioned by immigration and airport security officials.
  • Officials said the boy is from Kunduz and told interrogators he acted out of curiosity, while reports indicate he tailgated passengers at Kabul airport and had hoped to reach Iran.
  • Post-landing anti-sabotage and engineering inspections recovered a small red speaker from the rear gear area, and the aircraft was cleared for operations.
  • Authorities treated him as a minor and returned him to Kabul on a KAM Air flight the same day, as experts highlighted the extreme hazards and low survival rates for wheel‑well stowaways.