(DELHI, INDIA) A 13-year-old boy from Kunduz survived a flight from Kabul to Delhi by hiding in the rear central landing gear compartment of a Kam Air jet, then was discovered walking near the aircraft after landing and sent back to Afghanistan the same day, officials said.
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 21, 2025, on Kam Air flight RQ-4401 from Kabul to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, a route that takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Airport security took the boy into custody, questioned him, and placed him on the return flight to Kabul around 12:30 pm on Sunday, according to accounts from airport authorities.
The teenager told officers he acted out of curiosity. Some reports indicate he may have planned to reach Iran but boarded the wrong plane, ending up in India by mistake. In the compartment, officers found only a small red-colored audio speaker, suggesting he had no food, water, or warm clothing for the trip. His survival stands out because stowing away in an aircraft’s landing gear is widely known to be deadly due to freezing temperatures, low oxygen, and the danger of being crushed by the wheels and gear doors during takeoff and landing.
Security personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spotted the boy after landing when he was seen moving near the aircraft on the tarmac. He was immediately detained for safety checks and basic medical assessment before questioning. Authorities then coordinated with the airline to return him to Kabul on the same aircraft. By September 23, 2025, officials confirmed the boy was back in Afghanistan.
Security Response and Rapid Return
Indian airport officials moved quickly to control the situation, balancing security requirements with the child’s safety. The speed of the repatriation suggests close coordination between airport security, the airline, and immigration authorities.
Key points of the response:
– The boy reportedly gained access to Kabul Airport and hid in the landing gear of the Kam Air aircraft before departure.
– He was found walking near the plane after touchdown in Delhi and detained by CISF personnel for questioning.
– Authorities arranged his same-day repatriation, placing him on the return flight to Kabul at roughly 12:30 pm.
While officials have not released extended details about the interview process, they confirmed the boy’s statement on motive and the steps taken to remove him from the restricted area.
The incident raises questions about how airports screen airside areas and how airlines inspect aircraft before departure, especially where ground security lapses may allow access to dangerous aircraft compartments.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, incidents at the intersection of aviation safety and immigration control often drive renewed reviews of airport access rules and aircraft inspection routines, particularly when minors are involved. The boy’s age and the extreme risk he faced will likely keep attention on pre-departure checks and ground crew training.
Life-Threatening Risks in Wheel Wells
A wheel well is not designed for human travel. Important risk factors include:
– Extreme cold: Temperatures can drop far below freezing at altitude.
– Low oxygen: Thin air at cruise altitude makes breathing difficult.
– Crushing hazards: Moving parts, wheels, and hydraulic lines can trap or crush a person.
– Exposure: No protection from pressure changes, windblast, or debris.
Experts note survival chances increase on shorter flights because the aircraft spends less time at altitude and some residual heat from hydraulic systems and tires may help—though only marginally. Even so, the mortality rate for wheel-well stowaways is high, with estimates around 77%.
The Kabul–Delhi flight lasted about 1.5 to 2 hours, which may have made survival somewhat more likely than on long-haul routes. Still, the child’s survival is highly unusual. Historical cases show many people have died attempting similar journeys, either during the flight or by falling when the landing gear deploys on approach.
The boy’s reported lack of supplies—only a small red speaker found with him—highlights his unpreparedness and the extreme danger of the act.
Wider Implications for Migration, Security, and Humanitarian Care
This event goes beyond a failed border crossing; it underscores the risks individuals take outside official channels and the operational decisions airports must make when someone arrives without documents—especially a minor.
Operational and policy implications:
– Rapid repatriation demonstrates how airlines and security agencies can act when a stowaway is found immediately after landing and the aircraft can return.
– The incident exposes potential ground-security gaps at departure airports, prompting reviews of perimeter fencing, ramp patrols, and pre-flight inspections.
– Public attention can inspire copycat attempts, so authorities stress prevention through tighter control of airside access and clear reporting procedures.
Humanitarian considerations:
– The boy’s return to Kabul means he is back in familiar systems, but long-term support needs—psychosocial care, family tracing, education, or protection—fall outside airport responsibilities.
– The “space between” immediate airport response and social care typically involves local authorities, community services, and humanitarian actors.
For context on security responsibilities in India’s civil aviation system, readers can consult the Government of India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security: https://bcas.gov.in
Lessons for Airports and Airlines
Operational recommendations to reduce stowaway risk:
1. Strengthen perimeter security and lighting around aprons and runways.
2. Increase patrols and surveillance of ramp areas.
3. Ensure thorough pre-flight external inspections, including wheel wells where feasible.
4. Train ground crews to recognize and report suspicious activity before boarding.
5. Coordinate clear procedures among airlines, airport security, and immigration for responding to discovered stowaways—especially minors.
Even short flights do not make wheel-well stowaway attempts safe. As this case shows, survival is the exception, not the rule, and a single breach can become a systems test from runway to ramp.
Officials confirmed by September 23, 2025 that the child was already back in Afghanistan. That quick confirmation closed the immediate chapter in Delhi but will likely keep pressure on ground security in Kabul. When a 13-year-old from Kunduz makes it into a landing gear compartment on a scheduled passenger flight, it is both a human story and a test of aviation and security systems.
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 21, 2025, a 13-year-old boy from Kunduz survived a 1.5–2 hour Kam Air flight from Kabul to Delhi by hiding in the rear central landing gear of flight RQ-4401. Security personnel from India’s CISF found him walking near the aircraft after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, detained him for checks, and questioned him; he said he acted out of curiosity and carried only a small red speaker. Authorities placed him on a return flight to Kabul around 12:30 pm the same day, with officials confirming his return by September 23. The rare survival highlights serious ground-security gaps, the deadly risks of wheel-well stowaways, and the need for tighter perimeter controls, better pre-flight inspections, and coordinated procedures for handling vulnerable migrants, especially minors.
