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Russian Kid Survives Ride on the Wing of a Boeing 737?
Several news agencies are reporting on the story of a 15-year-old Russian boy who climbed onto the wing of a Boeing 737 and hung on for two hours as the plane flew 800 miles to Moscow. Is it even physically possible to hold onto something when traveling at over 500 miles per hour especially when the temperature routinely drops down to -58 Fahrenheit at cruising altitude? "His arms and legs were so severely frozen that rescuers were at first unable to remove his coat and shoes," according to the Russian News and Information Agency.
I have a hard time believing it, and so does the Moscow Times. Its report reads a bit differently:
"A 15-year-old boy is recovering with severe frostbite after hiding in the wheel well of a plane flying from Perm to Moscow, Tvoi Den reported Monday."
That sounds a little more likely. Even so, the wheel well can be a very dangerous place to hide, and many people have been found dead while attempting to stow away. He's a lucky kid.
Filed under: Russian Federation, Budget Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Moody75 Sep 25th 2007 7:12PM
I call BS
Tom G. Sep 25th 2007 9:11PM
Apparently the plane stayed below 15,000 for the entire trip so the boy could have oxygen. If it had gotten higher there would have been no O2.
John Hemmerich Sep 30th 2007 8:33AM
What a corny story. If this is a "FIRST" then there would be media coverage of the frozen boy, along with photos, and etc.....the airport did not confirm it, but radio Moscow did......this is a bad example of the "Laws of Evidence", no proof. And if he was on the wing of that plane, the force of the wind would have knocked him off, no one could survive a feat like that. no one has the strength to hang on to something like that. way too corny.
Mike C Sep 30th 2007 8:42AM
Strange things have happened in the past, but this takes the cake.
W. Barber Sep 30th 2007 9:11AM
In the 1960's a Cuban teenager hid in the wheel well of a plane, and survived a sub-freezing trans-Atlantic ride from Cuba to Madrid, Spain. It was written up in detail in "Readers Digest" at the time, a very reliable source.
dan Oct 2nd 2007 10:57PM
I say put the kid in rocky 78 a russian boy that can beat -58* and no o2 for hrs and hold on to an aircraft at 600 mph .I want to see this kid.
Pops Sep 30th 2007 10:22AM
Impossible.
Mike C Sep 30th 2007 9:22AM
It is impossible for a 15 year old child to survive an 800 mile trip on the wing, or even the wheel well, of a plane.
Shep Sep 30th 2007 10:40AM
Why not have pictures? They say a picture says a thousand words.
k. oden Sep 30th 2007 11:06AM
The air at upper altitudes while thin, does contain some oxygen. If not, how would engines run? Do other readers realize outside air is taken in and compressed for passengers to breathe? The biggest challenge for a stow away would be temperatures. At cruise levels above 28,000 feet, the average outside temperature is -55 degrees. Frost bite would be more of a problem than oxygen. And yes, there have been cases of stow aways in the wheel wells of various Boeing and Douglas aircraft in the past
vivi Sep 30th 2007 11:24AM
that would be cool if it really happened!
Samantha Sep 30th 2007 11:42AM
Yeah people. Yall are idiots. They wouldnt have a picture because they didnt know the boy was on the plane until they landed. They probably werent even thinking about pictures when they found him. He could have DIED and all you want to know about is pictures. You all need LIVES. Even if it wasnt true that he was on the wing, he was still OOTSIDE of the plane. GOSH PEOPLE. No wonder nobody likes americans!!!
NancyTroyer Sep 30th 2007 11:44AM
Wow ... I bet that was my kid!
Jimmy Hoffa Sep 30th 2007 11:46AM
Horsesh*t! Double Horsesh*t! And the Cuban kid in Readers Digest! No way, Stupid! Where do people come up with this crap? And some stupid MotherF*cker is going to say - Really? That's awesome!
jackie Sep 30th 2007 11:54AM
its possible, but i highly doubt it happened. i would have to have more evidence. but, russians are used to cold weather and im sure this kid thought it was nothing.
yakytiyak Sep 30th 2007 8:27PM
If that was your kid nancy I bore his twin !!!! idiot teenagers.
Pat Sep 30th 2007 12:19PM
I Believe it . I do it all the time. Just last week I was riding on top of a helicopter On The Out side Glass, Eating My Lunch. Where I met a Seaguil . we chatted a bit and he flew off. The rest of the ride home was boring. lol lol lol :)
wmvasd Sep 30th 2007 12:21PM
didn't anyone look out the window and say "HEY THERES A FROZEN KID ON THE WING!"
I say Bullsh!t. drive down the raod at 80 MPH stick your arm out the window, imagine that at 500 mph
not to mention most of the wing has flaps that rotate where would he hold on?
Just another Piece of media Crud.
Alberta B. Kurgan Sep 30th 2007 12:28PM
In response to Samantha's comments. I agree with everything she said about pictures were the last thing anyone thought about, however, the comment "Now wonder nobody likes Americans" should be remembered when "they" come knocking at our door because they are being threatened by the bullies of the neighborhood and want the "ugly Americans" to come and help themm out...physically & monitarily, as usual. I say "stand up to the bullies and help yourselves out and don't come crying to the country that everybody seems to dislke. GO USA! Love it or leave it!
Dave Sep 30th 2007 12:41PM
WOw, why didnt the stewardess give him some warm tea or a hot blanket? I'll never ride in the wheel well of THAT airline