A 13-year-old Afghan boy stunned authorities in Delhi on Sunday after arriving hidden inside the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air flight from Kabul.&nbsp;
The perilous attempt, known globally as a wheel-well stowaway, ended with the boy being safely detained and later repatriated.
The incident took place around 11:10 am when Kam Air flight RQ-4401 touched down at Indira Gandhi International Airport following a 90-minute journey. 
The airline&rsquo;s chief security officer spotted the boy walking on the taxiway and immediately alerted the airport&rsquo;s control centre. 
Security personnel from the CISF detained him and questioned him at Terminal 3.
Investigations revealed the boy, a native of Kunduz, had sneaked into Kabul airport and hid in the rear landing gear bay before takeoff.&nbsp;
Survival in such conditions is rare due to sub-zero temperatures and low oxygen levels at high altitudes. 
Remarkably, he survived and was returned to Kabul later the same day.
Airport authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft, recovering a small red speaker believed to belong to the boy. 
After clearance, the plane was released for operations.
Though rare, similar incidents have been reported globally. 
In past cases, several stowaway attempts have ended in fatalities from hypothermia, while a few survivors have surprised aviation officials worldwide.

Afghan boy detained at Delhi airport runway

13-year-old boy found in aircraft landing gear arrives safely at Delhi airport

Afghan Teen Survives Wheel-Well Stowaway Attempt

13-year-old boy found in aircraft landing gear arrives safely at Delhi airport

September 23, 2025 | 16:06 IST