Teenager’s Miraculous Journey: Surviving in A340’s Undercarriage from Kabul to Delhi

A 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan recently completed a daring escape, traveling from Kabul to Delhi in an extraordinary manner. Instead of taking a designated seat aboard a Kam Air flight, he concealed himself in the wheel well of the aircraft for the duration of the journey.

Afghan authorities reported that the boy, believed to be from Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan, was found roaming on the tarmac at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi after the flight from Kabul (KBL) landed on September 22, 2025.

The Kam Air flight, identified as RQ4401, was operated by an Airbus A340-300 registered as YA-KME. Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft took off from Kabul at 07:56 local time and arrived in Delhi around 10:33 local time, completing the trip in one hour and 37 minutes.

After being discovered on the tarmac, Indian security personnel detained the boy for questioning. He was later deported on the return flight to Kabul (RQ4402) at 12:47 the same day. According to reports, he claimed that his decision to travel was driven by curiosity.

During questioning, the boy informed authorities that he had hidden in the central landing gear compartment of the A340. This section contains a wheel bogie situated between the wings, designed to support the aircraft’s weight. Unfortunately, the boy realized he was on the wrong flight only after landing in India.

Reports noted that the boy had initially intended to journey to Tehran, Iran, but accidentally hid in the wrong aircraft at Kabul Airport. He managed to sneak onto the runway by following a group of passengers, then stowed away in the aircraft’s rear wheel well.

Upon inspecting the wheel wells after the boy’s discovery, Delhi Airport staff also found a small red audio speaker that belonged to him.

There has been a troubling increase in incidents involving stowaways, particularly those utilizing the wheel well as a hiding place. Survival rates for such attempts are low; many perish during the flight due to lack of oxygen, extreme temperatures, or are tragically crushed by landing gear.

However, this incident raises serious concerns regarding security protocols at Kabul Airport and how the young boy managed to access the wheel well undetected.

Have you heard similar stories of extraordinary escapes? What do you think should be done to improve airport security?