-60 degree temperatures—no oxygen… How do people manage to travel by hiding in the wheels of an aircraft?

-60 degree temperatures—no oxygen:  A 13-year-old Afghan boy arrived in India by hiding in the landing gear compartment of a flight from Kabul to Delhi. This case is not only serious for the security of any country but also represents akin to dodging death on a 'donkey journey'. The danger of this can be gauged from the fact that from 1947 to 2020, 126 such cases have been reported in which someone was found traveling by hiding in the landing gear compartment.

However, this is not the first time people have risked their lives in this way to travel abroad. Watch this report.

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The alarming fact is that only 28 people survived, while 98 others lost their lives. This death toll includes those who either fell before the plane landed at the airport or were found dead inside the landing gear compartment. Based on these figures, it can be estimated that the number of people who died in this type of travel is much higher than previously estimated.

A boy arrived in IGI Airport by hiding in the landing gear of a flight from Kabul

The plane rests entirely on the landing gear. The landing gear wheels, also known as wheel wells, support the plane during takeoff and landing. These wheels fold into a compartment located beneath the plane during takeoff and landing, located at the rear of the plane. When the plane lands, the wheels open, allowing the plane to land smoothly. A boy from Afghanistan hid in this landing compartment, making the 94-minute journey to Delhi. The astonishing thing is how he managed to make it there alive.

What is a Landing Gear Compartment?

The landing gear compartment, like its name, resembles a compartment. The KAM Air flight RQ4401, the airline on which the Afghan child arrived in India, had a 6-foot-long, 4-foot-wide, and 3-foot-deep compartment built into the rear. It is so strong that its wheels can support the weight of the entire aircraft. It has a hydraulic system that automatically deploys the wheels at the push of a button by the pilot. It has no seats or windows, resembling a completely dark room. When the aircraft is about to land, it is opened, exposing the wheels, and is closed a few minutes after takeoff.

Temperatures range from -40°C to -60°C

The landing gear compartment is designed solely to support the aircraft's wheels. Therefore, there are no temperature controls, no seats, or safety belts. While this place may be suitable for humans to hide, it poses significant risks. When the plane is at high altitude, the temperature in the sky can range from -40°C to -60°C. A person sitting in the landing gear compartment cannot withstand this temperature and will die from the cold. Only those who have traveled a very short distance survive such a dangerous journey.

Oxygen becomes zero, air pressure increases

In addition to the freezing cold, this ice compartment also has zero oxygen. The cabin is designed like a flight door, preventing outside air from entering. Without oxygen and cold, a person hiding inside falls unconscious within minutes and dies due to the reduced air pressure.

Only a few people survive.

>>1969 – 22-year-old Armando Socarras Ramirez similarly reached Madrid from Havana, Cuba, by hiding on a plane. Armando was completely safe after reaching Havana.

>>1996 – 23-year-old Indian Pradeep Saini left for London with his brother Vijay Saini. They arrived in London after a 10-hour journey, but Vijay died after falling from the plane near Heathrow Airport.

>>2000 – Fidel Maruhi arrived in Los Angeles from Tahiti on a Boeing 747. Sitting at the wheel of the Boeing 747, Fidel Maruhi covered 4,000 miles.

>>2002 – Victor Alvarez, a 22-year-old from Cuba, traveled four hours hidden under a plane to Montreal, Canada. He developed various illnesses after this journey.

>>2010 – A 20-year-old Romanian man successfully reached Heathrow Airport on a private jet flying from Vienna.

>>2014 - Yahya Abdi of California traveled in the landing gear of a Boeing 767 from San Jose to Maui. The 15-year-old was completely safe.

>>2015 - A man traveled in the landing gear from Johannesburg to London Heathrow. He fainted during the 12,875-kilometer journey.

Why did the child escape from Afghanistan?

A 13-year-old boy from Kunduz, Afghanistan, reached Delhi by hiding in the landing gear compartment of Flight RQ 4401 .When security personnel saw him, everyone was stunned. The child was shivering from the cold, but he was alive. During interrogation, the child revealed that he was supposed to go to Iran but mistakenly chose the Delhi flight.

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Summary

The boy said he climbed onto the plane's wheels and entered the wheel well. He remained seated inside the wheel well for the entire 94-minute flight. After questioning the child, CISF deported him to his country.