Afghan teen survives flight to Delhi by hiding in aircraft wheel well
New Delhi: In a rare and harrowing incident, a 13-year-old Afghan boy survived a flight to India by hiding in the rear wheel well of an aircraft, The New Indian Express has reported.
The teenager, who reportedly intended to sneak into Iran, mistakenly boarded a flight to Delhi on Sunday. He survived the 94-minute journey and landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in stable physical condition, sources told The New Indian Express.
The flight, RQ4401 operated by Afghanistan’s KAM Air, departed Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul at 8:46 am IST and landed at Delhi’s Terminal 3 at 10:20 am. According to sources who spoke to The New Indian Express, the boy tailgated passengers at Kabul airport to access the plane and hid in the wheel well during boarding.
“This raises serious concerns about security screening processes at Kabul airport,” a source told The New Indian Express.
The stowaway was discovered after landing when a ground handler spotted him walking in the restricted apron area. The Central Industrial Security Force took him into custody and later handed him over to the airport police. As a minor, he is not subject to legal charges, officials told The New Indian Express.
Experts described the act as extraordinarily dangerous. Aviation specialist Captain Mohan Ranganathan explained to The New Indian Express that the boy may have survived because he entered an enclosed, pressurized section of the wheel bay, which maintained a temperature similar to the passenger cabin.
Dr. Ritin Mohindra, associate professor at PGIMER, Chandigarh, told The New Indian Express that survival at such altitudes is highly unlikely, given the risk of hypoxia, frostbite, and fatal hypothermia.
Globally, only one in five wheel well stowaways survive such journeys due to oxygen deprivation, extreme cold, and mechanical hazards. Sunday’s incident appears to be only the second recorded wheel well stowaway case at an Indian airport. The first occurred on October 14, 1996, when brothers Pradeep (22) and Vijay Saini (19) attempted to stow away on a British Airways flight from Delhi to London; only Pradeep survived.
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Karnataka gram panchayats achieve 89% of tax collection target
Bengaluru: Gram panchayats across Karnataka have recorded a strong improvement in revenue mobilisation, realising 89% of the tax collection target for the financial year 2025-26, one of the highest levels in recent years, The Hindu reported.
According to the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, 5,943 gram panchayats reported higher collections compared to the previous year. The total tax collection stood at Rs 1,382.57 crore, marking an increase of Rs 110.04 crore from Rs 1,272.54 crore collected in 2024-25.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said state had previously secured the top position at the national level in tax collection and revenue mobilisation with respect to village panchayats, and the continued upward trend highlights the impact of “efficient administration, strict enforcement of regulations, and strengthened tax collection mechanisms.”
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In 2024-25, gram panchayats had realised 80% of the demand, collecting Rs 1,272.54 crore for the first time in the department’s history. Building on this, the state has now reached a record 89% realisation.
Highlighting district-wise performance, the minister noted that Raichur recorded 129% tax collection, while 11 districts crossed 100% realisation.
He said the improvement was driven by awareness campaigns, focused collection drives, and sustained efforts of officials at all levels, from bill collectors to senior administrators.
“Our focus over the past few years has been on improving systems, ensuring accountability, and empowering local bodies to enhance their own revenue capabilities. It is encouraging to see that every rupee collected is being reinvested into village infrastructure, public services, and local development. This is laying a strong foundation for inclusive and sustainable rural growth,” he said.
