Teenage stowaway found in hold of Emirates plane
A stowaway teen from China was discovered alive in the cargo hold of an Emirates plane which had flown for nine hours from Shanghai to Dubai.
The Dubai-based carrier said the 16-year old was found in the cargo hold of flight EK303 last Friday.
"We are co-operating fully with authorities in Dubai and as this is a police matter we are unable to comment further at this time," a spokesperson said.
China news agency named the boy as Xu, who had scaled a perimeter fence at Shanghai and climbed into the cargo hold while a security guard was looking the other way.
The news agency said the boy told investigators he decided to travel to the Gulf after hearing stories panhandlers (beggars) can earn hundreds of thousands of Yuan a year in Dubai.
"I hope that Chinese citizens will not follow such rumors," said Ma Xuliang, China’s deputy consul general in Dubai.
"The UAE has strict laws banning begging, violators of which will be punished in accordance with the law."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events