A 16-year-old boy has miraculously survived a flight from California to Hawaii hidden in the wheel well of a commercial airliner.
The boy managed to survive the five and a half hour journey despite freezing temperatures and a lack of oxygen at altitudes of up to 11,500m.
The boy was only discovered when he jumped down from the wheel well once the Hawaiian Airlines Flight 45 had safely landed at Kahului Airport in Maui.
Describing the incident, FBI spokesman Tom Simon said:
“[The] kid’s lucky to be alive”
According to the FBI, the boy had run away from his family home in Santa Clara, California after an argument with his parents, hopped over the fence at San Jose Airport, and climbed into the wheel well of the waiting plane. Once the plane had reached it cruising altitude, the boy is believed to have fallen unconscious.
The teenager is reported to be cooperating with the authorities in their investigation into the incident.
