Santa Clara teen survives in wheel well of Maui flight

Police in San Jose, Calif., say they are reviewing whether charges are warranted against a 16-year-old boy who authorities say jumped a fence at San Jose’s airport and stowed away aboard a Hawaii-bound flight.

The FBI has said the boy got into the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines flight at San Jose’s airport on Sunday morning after running away from his family following an argument.

He hopped down from the wheel well when the plane landed at the Maui airport and was seen wandering the airport grounds.

He was questioned by the FBI, but then released to child protective services. He was not charged with a crime.

Monday, San Jose police said their department, along with the TSA, FBI and Mineta San Jose International Airport representatives are continuing to investigate.

In a statement released Monday, officials from the San Jose airport said “First, we are thankful the teenager survived the journey. He was very lucky. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

Additionally, airport authorities say the facility’s security program meets and exceeds all federal requirements, and that they work closely with TSA and the San Jose Police Department to secure airport property, including the outer perimeter.

“Despite this, no system is 100 percent and it is possible to scale an airport fenceline, especially under cover of darkness, and remain undetected,” said Rosemary Barnes, spokeswoman for the airport.