Teen Survives Flight From California to Maui in Plane's Wheel Well

A 16-year-old boy managed to evade death and score a great deal on airfare after stowing away in the wheel well of an airliner on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from San Jose to Maui.

A 16-year-old boy managed to evade death and score a great deal on airfare after stowing away in the wheel well of an airliner on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from San Jose to Maui. An FBI spokesman said that the kid was “lucky to be alive” considering the cold temperature and lack of oxygen at 38,000 feet.

According to the FBI, the child ran away from home after and argument, and hopped a fence at the San Jose airport. Security footage from the airport confirmed that description. The boy was unconscious for most the flight, which last around five hours.

Other flights leaving Maui were searched following the child’s appearance, including one flight which was delayed for three hours.

The child will not be charged and was released to child protective services. When the plane landed, he hopped out and wandered around the tarmac, and was later taken to Maui Memorial Medical Hospital.