Afghan Teen Hides in Aircraft Landing Gear, Reaches Delhi Undetected

In a shocking security breach, a 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan reportedly traveled from Kabul to Delhi by hiding inside the landing gear compartment of a KAM Air flight.

The incident came to light on Monday around 11 AM, when flight RQ-4401 landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after a two-hour journey from Kabul. The boy, said to be a resident of Kunduz, was spotted wandering near the aircraft shortly after arrival.

Airport staff alerted security personnel, and the boy was quickly detained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). During preliminary questioning, he claimed to have sneaked into Kabul airport and climbed into the aircraft’s rear landing gear bay “out of curiosity.”

A thorough security check of the aircraft was conducted following the discovery. Officials found a small red speaker—believed to belong to the boy—inside the landing gear compartment. The aircraft was cleared for operations after all safety protocols were completed.

The teenager was reportedly sent back to Afghanistan on the return flight around 12:30 PM the same day.

Authorities are now reviewing how the boy managed to breach security and survive the journey, which typically involves extreme cold and low oxygen levels in the landing gear area.