Emirates stowaway teenager sent back to China without charge

A Chinese teenage boy who hid in the cargo of an Emirates flight from Shanghai to Dubai has returned home without charge, according to reports.

The 16-year-old, identified as Xu from Bazhong, in Sichuan province, snuck into the Emirates Airbus A380 plane’s cargo hold at Shanghai Airport and made the harrowing nine-hour journey to Dubai on May 27.

The boy allegedly made the journey after  hearing that beggars can make a lot of money in Dubai.

Read more: Chinese stowaway found on Emirates flight

Brig Ali bin Lahej, director of the General Department of Airport Security at Dubai Police, could not confirm that the boy returned to China, as the matter was left in the hands of prosecution, according to The National. However, he said that the boy was treated with kindness and respect when he was in police custody.

“Our treatment at airport security is like that of any government body, in which we treat all people very well regardless of their nationalities, especially in this case, where the boy was under-age,” he said.

“We followed procedures and we made sure he was comfortable as it is a reflection of Dubai’s image and good nature.

“We don’t accept anything less than gently dealing with people. We are happy to satisfy people and are satisfied when people are happy.”

China Radio International (CRI) reported that Mian Jinlong, a Chinese translator for Dubai prosecutors, said the youth had “risked his life sneaking into Dubai because he heard an online rumour that even beggars in the city can earn several hundred thousand yuan a month”.

The translator said the teen jumped over a fence at the Shanghai airport and climbed into the cargo hold while a security guard looked away.

He also told the translator that “the cargo compartment of the plane was very comfortable, although he did not eat anything during the nine-hour flight”.