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Teenage stowaway survives flight across Pacific in jet wheel well Teenage stowaway survives flight over Pacific in jet wheel well
(about 5 hours later)
A teenage runaway has survived a five-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean stowed away in the freezing wheel well of a jet plane. 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 boy did not die after he quickly lost consciousness as temperatures dropped to as low as -62C (-80F) in the compartment on the flight from California to Hawaii. 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 discovered on the tarmac at Kahului airport in Maui, Hawaii, with no identification after jumping down from the wheel well and wandering around the airport grounds. 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.
He had run away from his family after an argument, officials said. Officials said he had run away from his family after an argument.
Security footage from the San Jose airport, where the flight originated, showed that the boy hopped over a fence to get to Hawaiian Airlines flight 45 on Sunday morning. 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.
FBI special agent Tom Simon said: "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." "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 medically screened and found to be unharmed. "[He] doesn't even remember the flight," Simon said. "It's amazing he survived that." 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, he added. The boy, who will not be charged, has been referred to child protection services, Simon added.
Hawaiian Airlines said airline personnel noticed the boy on the ramp after the flight arrived and immediately notified airport security. "Our primary concern now is for the wellbeing of the boy, who is exceptionally lucky to have survived," it added. Hawaiian Airlines said staff noticed the boy on the ramp after the flight arrived and notified airport security. "Our primary concern now is for the wellbeing of the boy, who is exceptionally lucky to have survived," it added.
In August, a 13- or 14-year-old boy in Nigeria survived a 35-minute trip in the wheel well of a domestic flight after stowing away. Authorities credited the flight's short duration with his survival.In August, a 13- or 14-year-old boy in Nigeria survived a 35-minute trip in the wheel well of a domestic flight after stowing away. Authorities credited the flight's short duration with his survival.
Others stowing away in wheel wells have died, including a 16-year-old killed after stowing away on board a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston in 2010 and a man who fell on to a suburban London street from a flight from Angola in 2012.Others stowing away in wheel wells have died, including a 16-year-old killed after stowing away on board a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston in 2010 and a man who fell on to a suburban London street from a flight from Angola in 2012.