NEW DELHI: A 13-year-old boy from Kunduz, Afghanistan, was discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after making a dangerous two-hour journey from Kabul by hiding inside the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air aircraft.
Official sources told this newspaper that the Kam Air flight (RQ-4401) landed from Kabul at 10:20 a.m. on Saturday. Around 11:10 a.m., airport authorities received a message from the airline’s Chief Security Officer that a boy had been spotted roaming near the aircraft.
On being questioned, he admitted he had concealed himself in the rear central landing gear bay before take-off in Kabul.
Following his discovery, the aircraft was thoroughly checked by Kam Air’s security and engineering staff. During the search, a small red-coloured audio speaker was also found in the same compartment. The item was handed over to officials. Examination found it a simple speaker.
Officials said the boy was taken to the “I-to-I” (Immigration to Investigation) area of the airport for questioning by all concerned agencies.
The incident has raised serious concerns about security at Kabul airport, where airport services — including aviation security — are contracted to the UAE-based company GAAC alongside Taliban authorities.
In Delhi, CISF personnel and other officials ensured that the boy was treated with sensitivity. He was offered food and water and spoken to gently to calm him down. “He is a child, not a criminal,” one officer said.
After formal review and clearances, the boy was repatriated to Kabul the same day on Kam Air flight RQ-4402. The flight had been scheduled for 12:30 p.m. but eventually departed at 4:00 p.m.
