Kam Air flight RQ-4401, originating from Kabul, landed in Delhi on 21/9. Shortly after, airport staff spotted a boy wandering near the aircraft and immediately raised the alarm.
Security personnel detained and questioned the boy. He explained he was from Kunduz, Afghanistan, and had snuck into Kabul Airport, hiding in the plane's landing gear compartment. He intended to fly to Iran but mistakenly boarded the Delhi-bound flight.
Following a medical examination, the boy was returned to Kabul on a flight the same day. The aircraft underwent a thorough security check before resuming operations.
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Illustrative photo: New Indian Express |
Illustrative photo: New Indian Express
Experts called the boy’s survival a miracle. Doctor Ritin Mohindra from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, India, explained that at an altitude of around 9,000 meters, the temperature in the landing gear compartment drops to -40 to -60 degrees Celsius, and oxygen levels are severely reduced. A person could lose consciousness within minutes.
Indian aviation safety analyst, Captain Mohan Ranganathan, said, "Aircraft landing gear compartments typically lack pressurization and heating. However, if the child was inside a closed compartment when the landing gear retracted, he may have been shielded from life-threatening conditions."
The incident raised concerns among Indian officials about security breaches at Kabul Airport and prompted calls for stricter controls.
Nhat Minh (New Indian Express)
