A 52-year-old Chinese national named Zhang Xiuqiang has been charged with theft after allegedly pocketing over $23,000 in cash from three fellow passengers during a budget flight from Vietnam to Singapore.
Zhang’s alleged misdeeds occurred on a Scoot flight, the budget subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, prompting an investigation by airport authorities.
The airline acknowledged the incident, stating that the cabin crew had been alerted by a passenger, leading to the activation of the Airport Police Division.
According to court charge sheets reported by Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia, Zhang reportedly stole 3 million Vietnamese dong ($123) from a backpack, 510 million Vietnamese dong ($20,950), and a 50 Singapore dollar note ($38) from a black messenger bag, and $1,000 and 930 Singapore dollars ($700) from an envelope in a gray bag.
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Cabin theft is considered a federal crime in many countries, and such crimes are more prevalent than commonly believed.
Hong Kong police issued a warning in October about an uptick in thefts on incoming flights, uncovering a syndicate stealing credit cards from passengers.
In 2019, Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong announced efforts to curb petty theft of in-flight supplies by its cabin crew.
In a similar incident in September, a man was arrested in Taiwan for allegedly stealing cash from another passenger’s carry-on luggage during a flight from Tokyo to Taipei.
Zhang has been detained for police investigations, and if convicted, he could face up to three years in jail, a fine, or both for each charge.
Scoot, while unable to provide further details, has cautioned both crew and passengers to stay vigilant during flights.
The airline emphasized the importance of its operating crew’s training to be watchful and to promptly report any suspicious behavior on board.
Additionally, Scoot advised passengers to safeguard their valuables at all times.
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Passenger Charged With Stealing $23,000 Inflight Cash On Budget Flight, Passenger Charged With Stealing $23,000 Inflight Cash On Budget Flight
