Indonesian man survives flight in Garuda aircraft wheel well

An Indonesian man took a free ride in the wheel well of a Garuda Indonesia domestic flight this week, surviving a high-altitude flight of nearly two hours in thin air and sub-zero temperatures. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian man took a free ride in the wheel well of an aircraft this week, surviving a high-altitude flight of nearly two hours in thin air and sub-zero temperatures.

Mario Stevan Ambarita, 21, was spotted staggering around the tarmac at Jakarta airport on Tuesday, shortly after the Garuda Indonesia domestic flight landed from Sumatra Island to the north.

"The case was quite a surprise to us," Garuda CEO Arif Wibowo told Reuters.

The stowaway scaled a 2.5-metre fence to reach the aircraft, where he tucked himself into the rear wheel housing, media said.