A 13-year-old Afghan boy’s “curiosity” led him to stow away in the landing gear compartment of a Kabul-Delhi flight, according to a PTI report.

The boy managed to travel undetected on KAM Airlines flight number RQ-4401, which landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 11 am on Sunday.

‘Did it out of curiosity’

The teenager, said to be from Kunduz city, was spotted roaming near the aircraft after it touched down. He was apprehended by airline personnel and handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who brought him to Terminal 3 for questioning.

During interrogation, the boy reportedly told officials he sneaked into Kabul airport and hid inside the rear central landing gear compartment of the aircraft. He said he did this “out of curiosity,” PTI quoted sources as saying.

2-hour flight at 36,000 feet

The boy endured the two-hour journey from Kabul to Delhi at an altitude of over 36,000 feet inside the cramped landing gear compartment, officials said.

Repatriated to Afghanistan

After questioning, the teenager was deported on the same aircraft back to Kabul on Sunday itself, PTI reported.

Following the incident, KAM Airlines security officials conducted a detailed inspection of the aircraft’s landing gear compartment. A small red-coloured speaker, believed to belong to the boy, was recovered. The aircraft was later cleared after thorough anti-sabotage checks, authorities confirmed. (Gulf News)

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A Sri Lankan man charged over the alleged sexual assault of a woman on board a flight to Australia has been banned from leaving the country as his court case continues.

The suspect, 41, faced court on Thursday following his arrest at Melbourne Airport on December 18 after a passenger complained to airline staff of sexual assault en route from Sri Lanka to Australia.

He stood alongside an interpreter at Melbourne’s Magistrate Court as he was charged with one count of an act of indecency following the international flight.

Australian Federal Police allege the suspect “committed an act of indecency” while in the air. The offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years of imprisonment if convicted.

The Sri Lankan national first fronted court on December 19, where he was granted bail on strict conditions. He surrendered his passport and will remain in Victoria or the country as his case is heard.

Under the conditions of his bail, the Sri Lankan national has to report to a police station three times a week and live under a home curfew.

During the court hearing on Thursday, the suspect’s lawyer asked for an alteration to his client’s bail, requesting the 41-year-old be allowed to live alone at a new address in Glen Waverley.

The request was not opposed by prosecutor Natasha Ferreira. Prosecutor Ferreria told magistrate Andrew Waters the AFP will present CCTV footage along with additional evidence to the suspect’s defence by January 30. He will front court again in mid-March.

In a statement on the case, AFP Detective Superintendent Stephen Cook said authorities are committed to continuing to protect travellers on the ground and in the air.

“When travelling through the airport and when on a plane, people are bound by Australian law,” he said.

“The AFP is committed to supporting airport staff and aviation partners and will continue to protect travellers while maintaining zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour.” (Sky News)

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The door of an Asiana Airlines jet opened as it was coming into land in Daegu, South Korea, on Friday afternoon, leaving wind whipping through the plane’s cabin as terrified passengers gripped their armrests, video of the incident shows.

An airline official said a man in his 30s who was sitting in the emergency seat seemed to have opened the door when the aircraft was about 700 feet (213 meters) above the ground and about two to three minutes from landing in the city 150 miles (240 kilometres) south of Seoul.

However, company officials told CNN the plane had landed safely. Local police said a man has been arrested.

A total of 200 people were on board, including 194 passengers, according to Asiana Airlines.

According to the Daegu Fire Department, 12 people suffered minor injuries from hyperventilation and nine of them have been sent to hospitals in Daegu.

The aircraft was identified on the Flightradar 24 tracking website as an Airbus 321.

The jet was on a flight from Jeju island, off South Korea’s southern coast, to Daegu. (CNN)

Door of Asiana Airlines plane opens in mid-air just before landing in South Korea; 9 people taken to hospital with breathing difficulties pic.twitter.com/rUI6LTRihj

— BNO News (@BNONews) May 26, 2023

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