A 16-year-old boy has survived a five-hour journey across the Pacific Ocean stowed away in the well of a wheel on a flight from California to Hawaii.
The teenager miraculously remained unharmed despite freezing temperatures at an altitude of 38,000 ft and shortage of oxygen.
Tom Simon, a FBI spokesman in Honolulu, told The Associated Press that authorities were questioning the young male after he was discovered on the tarmac at the Maui airport with no identification.
The 16-year-old received medical care at Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii.
He explained that footage from a security camera in the San Jose airport confirmed the boy’s story. The teen from Santa Clara, California can be seen hopping a security fence and making his way towards the Hawaiian Airlines Flight 45 on Sunday morning.
“Kid’s lucky to be alive,” Simon said.
It is believed that the young boy was attempting to run away after an argument with his family.
After landing in Maui, the teenager jumped down from the wheel well and began wandering around the airport grounds. Airline personnel spotted the boy and immediately notified airport security.
The boy, who was medically screen and found to be unharmed, doesn’t remember the flight.
“He was unconscious for the lion’s share of the flight,” Simon explained.
Adding: “It’s amazing he survived that.”
