Adam Saleh is zipped into a suitcase by friends. Photo / YouTube
Adam Saleh is zipped into a suitcase by friends. Photo / YouTube
An American YouTuber claims to have pulled off one of the most dangerous airline pranks of all time by smuggling himself into the hold of a plane inside a suitcase.
In a video posted this week, prankster Adam Saleh alleged that he was checked in on a TigerAir flight from Melbourne to Sydney undetected - but the airline disputes his claims.
Saleh can be seen being zipped into a suitcase in a hotel room in Melbourne, with only his phone for company and barely enough room for his arms and legs.
"I am so scared, I don't know if I'm going to survive," he says as the bag is closed, with only a small breathing hole left unzipped.
He is then transported to Melbourne airport in the boot of a taxi, in increasing discomfort. Upon arrival, his friends wheel him over to an automated check-in station - chosen so no staff member would be there to question the weight of the bag.
The suitcase disappears down an automated check-in conveyor belt. Photo / YouTube
Despite being over the 30kg weight restriction, the video shows Saleh's suitcase travelling away on the conveyor belt after the group paid an extra fee.
Meanwhile, the video cuts to his friends enjoying snacks and drinks on the flight, while Saleh becomes increasingly sweaty inside his bag.
Before taking a nap, Saleh continues to film from inside the bag and claims to have been on the flight for an hour and forty minutes.
Things get a bit sweaty inside the suitcase at times. Photo / YouTube
Later, as his friends wait at baggage claim, Saleh's hand can be seen waving from inside the bag on the conveyor belt.
"I made it from Melbourne all the way to Sydney, I'm just happy to be alive," he shouts as other travellers watch in confusion.
He reiterated that no one should copy what he did as a "professional idiot".
The YouTube prankster was seen waving from the suitcase at baggage claim. Photo / YouTube
But in an open letter to the vlogger, TigerAir says there were several reasons why the prank was obviously a fake.
"Firstly, you wouldn't have been accepted by our automated bag drop machines at 66kg as a friendly staff member would have stepped in to assist."
"Secondly, some aircraft have heated baggage holds but the aircraft you were on does not and it gets pretty cold at 36,000 feet so by the time you arrived in Sydney you would have been a popsicle.
"Thirdly, we have footage of you boarding the aircraft using your legs."
The airline also told The Sun that the safety of staff and customers was not compromised at any time.
"The airline industry in Australia is highly regulated and has among the strictest standards in the world.
"TigerAir Australia has a zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour and has investigated this matter as a priority.
