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Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,065
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Workers saw him come out of the wheel well once the flight landed, so yes, I believe it. He fell to the ground and was very weak, but he quickly regained strength. As others have said, many people have survived after being in the wheel well, so it's not a stretch. The kid was lucky, because many have also not survived.

"Summer afternoon-summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,833
Registered: ‎04-12-2011

It's happened before, so yes, I do believe it.

Being so young, the boy probably didn't realize for a minute how dangerous it was. The young are indestructible....or so they think.

Would I do it? No way! I KNOW I am destructible, LOL. Smiley Happy

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,728
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I didn't believe his story until some report I heard this AM mentioned that a maintenance person allenegly saw him getting down from the wheel well. But I have to admit, I've heard a couple of differing scenarios by now…….including one that said he might have meant to have been headed to Africa!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,126
Registered: ‎06-20-2010

The title of this thread reminds me of ""Balloon Boy""

I didn't believe that story from the get go - LOL

Regular Contributor
Posts: 185
Registered: ‎12-31-2010

I do remember a few years ago, a young man's body was found on the ground and it was determined he had fallen out of a wheel well of a plane -- don't remember how close to the airport he was or from what height he had fallen.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 11,367
Registered: ‎03-09-2010
On 4/22/2014 brii said:

The title of this thread reminds me of "Balloon Boy"

I didn't believe that story from the get go - LOL


I had the EXACT same thought.

I just read an article about this case. Another case where someone survived on a trip to (from?) Tahiti survived but was in bad shape. Had to be pumped full of warming fluids at the hospital. Didn't just get up and walk away.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-teen-jet-stowaway-was-likely-unconscious-for-much-of-fl...

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,420
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Poor Balloon Boy was a pawn of his attention seeking father. From all reports, the father in this case is an introverted taxi cab driver.

Super Contributor
Posts: 373
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

According to one news report, 85% of people who have tried this before have not survived. Many in the aviation field are skeptical because of the temps, oxygen and length of the flight involved. Not to say it isn't true, but there appear to be too many questions.

Super Contributor
Posts: 1,433
Registered: ‎03-10-2010
On 4/22/2014 shorelady said:

According to one news report, 85% of people who have tried this before have not survived. Many in the aviation field are skeptical because of the temps, oxygen and length of the flight involved. Not to say it isn't true, but there appear to be too many questions.

But that leaves 15% that DID survive.

As I said, just because it's difficult, does NOT mean that it is IMPOSSIBLE.

Was Yuban, then changed to Plaid Pants due to forum upgrade, and apparently, I'm back to being Yuban.
Super Contributor
Posts: 1,680
Registered: ‎03-10-2010
On 4/22/2014 terrier3 said:

How else did he get to Hawaii?

That's the mystery...

Yep. He didn't swim, walk, take a boat, buy a ticket and fly… how did he get there if he didn't catch a ride in the wheel well of the plane?