Teen survives in wheel well of Maui flight

[KingGhidorah 209]

Pilots hear a tapping out in morse code coming from the floor: p.l.e.a.s.e.m.o.v.e.g.e.a.r.l.e.v.e.r.t.o.o.f.f.g.e.t.t.i.n.g.p.i.n.c.h.e.d.t.h.x.

 

 

I probably should be more p.c. when I hear about things like this, because obviously the kid has some really deep-seated issues, and we can feel sorry for him for that, but at some point, I just shake my head and get a little sardonic about it.

[scott967 62]

I can see that where Hawaiian parks at SJC it is probably about the easiest place to hop a fence and get to the aircraft without being detected.

 

scott s.

.

[fppilot 4,407]

Guess I won't ever again complain about getting a middle seat between two college linebackers!!!!!!

 

Huh!  Maui.  Not bad for a getaway from parents.  Wonder if he really knew to where the plane was scheduled?  

 

When I was that age I wanted to stow away from Kansas City to the Indianapolis 500.  Funny, two years later our family moved to Indianapolis.

[jabloomf1230 2,445]

I vote for this being either a complete hoax or at least a misrepresentation of where the boy stowed away.

[tf51d 284]

I vote for this being either a complete hoax or at least a misrepresentation of where the boy stowed away.

Definitely not a hoax, there's video of him being taken to an ambulance surrounded by cops. As for how he did it. That was reported and demonstrated by CNN, so take that for what it's worth, considering the source.

[HiFlyer 9,376]

I vote for this being either a complete hoax or at least a misrepresentation of where the boy stowed away.

 

His story seems to check out.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/21/teenage-stowaway-survives-flight-pacific-california-hawaii

 

EXCERPT:

 

A teenage runaway has survived a five-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii stowed away in the freezing wheel well of a jet plane.

Officials said it was a miracle the 16-year-old did not die after he lost consciousness as temperatures fell to -62C (-80F) in the compartment on flight.

 

He was found on the asphalt at Kahului airport in Maui, Hawaii, with no identification after jumping down and wandering around the grounds. His only possession, besides what he was wearing, was a comb.

 

Officials said he had run away from his family after an argument.

 

Security footage from the San Jose airport, where the flight originated, showed the boy jumping over a fence to get to Hawaiian Airlines flight 45 on Sunday.

"His story checked out," said FBI special agent Tom Simon. "It's just an apparent miracle … There was no appearance of any special gear of any sort. He was unconscious for the lion's share of the flight."

 

Simon said the boy was given a medical examinations and found to be unharmed. "[He] doesn't even remember the flight," he said. "It's amazing he survived that."

The boy, who will not be charged, has been referred to child protection services, Simon added.

 

[Lashrathius 49]

I'm more interested in seeing how he didn't manage to fall out when the landing gear was lowered for landing, since he was unconscious at that time.

[HiFlyer 9,376]

Some interesting reading for the technically curious. This report is quite old so the numbers are out of date.

 

http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/1990s/media/AM96-25.pdf

 

Historically, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, since 1947, 105 people are known to have attempted to fly inside wheel wells on 94 flights worldwide. Of those, 25 made it through, including a 9-year-old -- a survival rate of 24%. One of the flights went as high as 39,000 feet. Two others were at 38,000 feet.

[fluffyflops 1,865]

 

If the lad was able to hop a fence and get into a wheel well without detection, he could certainly have gotten into the cargo bay as well.

 

maybe the cargo bay was closed ? 

If it was my airline we would of tried to charge him for a bag, and then ask him if he wanted to buy a train ticket before finally asking him to make a donation to a charity 

[Captain_Barfbag 31]

Today's story is that he was trying to get to Somalia.  He had no idea where the plane was going.

 

A 16-year-old with no useful concept of geography.  It says something about either him or our educational system.  I guessing it's a little of both.

[mebull 27]

 

 

It says something about either him or our educational system. I guessing it's a little of both.

 

I am leaning towards a whole lot of both!

 

Mel

 

P.S. Extremely off topic; @ Captain. I love hockey also, . . . .  you, Bedford Ma. I'm betting you are a Bruins fan and a BC fan? Bruins look tough to beat this year. I'm a Jackets fan, still holding my breath, they can be really good or really bad.

[scott967 62]

Today's story is that he was trying to get to Somalia.  He had no idea where the plane was going.

 

A 16-year-old with no useful concept of geography.  It says something about either him or our educational system.  I guessing it's a little of both.

 

I think it is just a function of where Hawaiian parks there.  Far end of terminal next to the fence.

 

scott s.

.

[HawkDsl 50]

 

 

Today's story is that he was trying to get to Somalia.

 

I think Hawaii is waaaayyy better. Kid lucked out!

 

 

I guess the poor parents will have to pay for the plane trip back... I wonder if the airline will want something for the trip over?

 

Before you laugh at that idea, consider that companies are generally greed filled, soulless monsters.

[fppilot 4,407]

Before you laugh at that idea, consider that companies are generally greed filled, soulless monsters.

 

Wrong! But an otherwise fundamentally sound thought!

 

With their ground crew's failure at pre-flight inspection I expect they will in the future need to have even more greed in order to recover from the negligence claim they will have to make settlement for in this case.

[Captain_Barfbag 31]

 

 

I'm betting you are a Bruins fan and a BC fan?

 

Bruins!  (I don't follow college hockey much.)  I came very close to starting a playoff beard last week.