Teen stowaway survives flight in wheel well
A 16-year-old boy has survived a hazardous mile-high journey across the Pacific Ocean, stowing away in the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines plane.
After an argument at home, the runaway hitched a ride on the aircraft, after sneaking on to the tarmac at Santa Clara Airport, California.
After apparently picking an aircraft at random, he stowed away in the wheel well of Hawaiian Airlines Flight 45.
Once discovered in a disoriented state on arrival at Honolulu by airport officials, the boy was questioned by the FBI on Sunday who have pieced together details of the incredible journey.
FBI spokesman Tom Simon in Honolulu said the boy was unscathed despite lack of oxygen and sub-zero temperatures at 38,000 feet.
The boy was very lucky to be alive according to Simon.
"He doesn’t even remember the flight and it’s amazing he survived it," said Simon.
The FBI also said the boy was unconscious for most of the five-hour flight.
No charges are being brought against the teen who has been referred to child protective services.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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