A 16-year-old boy has stowed away in the wheel well of a flight from California to Hawaii, surviving the trip halfway across the Pacific Ocean unharmed despite frigid temperatures at 38,000 feet and a lack of oxygen.

FBI spokesman Tom Simon said the boy was questioned after being discovered on the tarmac at the Maui airport with no identification.

Mr Simon said security footage from San Jose airport verified that the boy hopped over a fence to get to Hawaiian Airlines Flight 45 on Sunday morning. He said the child had run away from his family.

Mr Simon said the boy will not be charged and was referred to child protective services.

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