16-year-old boy found in hold of Emirates flight to Dubai

A Chinese teenager has been found hiding in the cargo hold of an Emirates passenger plane flying from Shanghai to Dubai.

The Dubai-based carrier said the teenager was discovered on the flight last Friday.

The airline has not revealed the stowaway's identity, but China's official Xinhua news agency said he was a 16-year-old boy whose family name is Xu.

The news agency said the boy attempted the risky journey because he had heard rumours that beggars in Dubai earn a lot of money.

According to Xinhua, the teenager jumped over a fence at the airport in Shanghai, before climbing into the cargo hold while a security guard looked away.

Dubai Police have launched an investigation.

In a statement, the airline said: