A 16-year-old boy hid himself in the wheel well of a plane that went from California to Hawaii on Sunday.
Despite freezing temps and the lack of oxygen at 38,000 feet, the teen somehow made the journey unharmed.
People can’t stop reminding this young man how lucky he is to be alive!
Reportedly, the Santa Clara boy got into a fight with his family, ran away, and hopped into the Hawaiian Airlines Flight 45 wheel well — after jumping the airport’s fence with ease, apparently.
When they landed, the boy wandered around the airport before he was finally questioned.
The FBI has said that the teen was unconscious for most of the 5 1/2 hour flight… which kind of makes us wonder how he held on?! They also added that he doesn’t even remember the flight!
Hawaiian Airlines spokeswoman Alison Croyle gave a statement, saying:
“Our primary concern now is for the well-being of the boy, who is exceptionally lucky to have survived.”
But now this is bringing up even bigger concerns, like why was the boy on the flight in the first place?!
Rep. Eric Swalwell tweeted about the incident, saying:
“I have long been concerned about security at our airport perimeters. #Stowaway teen demonstrates vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.”
The boy was sent to child protective services, and the good news for him is that he wasn’t charged with a crime.
Last year, a teen in Nigeria made it through a 35-minute flight in a wheel well at much lower elevations and higher temps, but others who have tried before haven’t been so lucky.
We just can’t believe he was passed out, over an ocean, in freezing temps, for HOURS and still made it! It like he went into hibernation!