On Sunday, a 13 year old Afghan boy managed to stow away on a flight out of Kabul in the wheel well of a KAM Air flight to Delhi.

The boy hid inside the Airbus A340-300 widebody operating flight 4401 for the duration of the 622 mile journey.

The teen was from Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, about 150 miles north of Kabul. He reportedly snuck into the Kabul airport, bypassing security by tailing ticketed passengers, and stowed away in the rear central landing gear. He carried with him a small red speaker that was later found inside the landing gear compartment.

Upon landing in Delhi, ground staff saw him roaming near the aircraft and apprehended him, turning him over to inistry of Home Affairs police for questioning at Terminal 3.

Authorities reported that he said he did it “out of curiosity,” not fully understanding the risks. That may be the official line. It also helps with the narrative of returning him immediately back to Delhi. In my own view if a child makes it out of Afghanistan you don’t force them to return.

According to security officials,

The boy was questioned for several hours before being sent back to Kabul via another flight at around 4 pm on the same day. He said he managed to sneak inside the airport and the landing gear, without being detected.

The aircraft was inspected, with safety checks for potential sabotage, and cleared for the return trip back to Kabul.

The boy was questioned for several hours, and returned to Afghanistan on the single daily KAM Air flight the same day. Normally the aircraft is on the ground for just 90 minutes, but it took a nearly 3 hour delay – for security checks, and perhaps while sorting out repatriation of the boy.

Clearly, it would be worse for him on the ground in Kunduz if he were a girl. Girls are banned from going beyond primary school with their education. They are required to adhere to strict dress codes and have a male guardian for travel, and are prohibited from singing. Women have been publicly flogged for violating rules like appearing in public without male guardian, interacting with non-mahram men, or alleged moral offences.

The Taliban bans wifi in several provinces to ‘prevent immorality’ covering homes, public institutions, and businesses. That alone limits the ability to learn and build opportunities beyond Afghanistan. And this kid got out!

Stowaways often don’t make it, but one managed to survive flying Guatemala City to Miami on American, and another was found hidden inside a landing gear on arrival in Paris.

Here’s the incredible story of a man who stowed away in the wheel well of a 5100 mile British Airways flight and barely survived (his companion did not make it) and one of a man who shipped himself from Australia to Los Angeles in a box.

Meanwhile, a United Express baggage handler got trapped in the cargo hold of a regional jet and flew to Washington DC while a drunk baggage handler fell asleep inside the cargo hold of an American Airlines plane and flew to Chicago but those environments are (somewhat) safer.

Do not try this at home, the odds of success are low – and while it’s likely we won’t learn more about this boy’s story I’m reminded that desperate people looking to improve their lives will go to tremendous lengths.