Akwa Ibom state-owned Ibom Air (IA) has said the firm has charged an in -flight passenger after being arrested for allegedly stealing an in-flight a laptop belonging a co-traveller.
This was made known to Journalists Thursday by Mrs. Aniekan Essienette,
General Manager (GM) in -charge of Marketing and Communication, recalling that the incident occurred “on the morning of the 26th of July 2023, during the boarding of Ibom Air flight Q1300 from Lagos to Abuja, a passenger.”
According to her, the suspect, identified as Ogeneochuko David, was apprehended for allegedly taking another passenger’s laptop from his bag in the overhead cabin.
She said: “The owner of the laptop, who suspected the movement of the said Mr David within the aircraft, decided to check where his laptop was kept and immediately realized the item was no longer there. He raised the alarm by notifying the crew members accordingly.
“A search was immediately instituted, which led to about half an hour delay, and the laptop was found with Mr David.
He was immediately offloaded and handed over to the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) for further investigation, who then handed him over to the Police for further investigation.
”The police have since confirmed that the suspect is a member of a large syndicate specialising in stealing onboard aircraft.The owner of the laptop voluntarily stepped down from the flight to assist with the investigation and promised to follow up with the case to its logical conclusion.
The company stressed that In line with their corporate policy, it has zero tolerance for any sort of criminal activity on board its flights, and will prosecute any offenders to the full extent of the law.
She further recalled that one Kingsley Chinsunum, was alleged to have stolen the sum N100,000 from a wallet kept inside a bag in the overhead bin, while on board Ibom Air flight 4150 at Murtala Muhammed Aircraft Terminal 2, Ikeja, on the 31st of May 2023.
“He has since been charged to Court and is presently facing trial at the Ikeja Magisterial District. Not too long ago, a passenger, one Mr Adebayi Adelugba, staged the stealing of his own checked-in bag and declared it missing, accusing the airline of negligence amidst threats of litigation, but for CCTV footage which caught him in the act.
“He was convicted of the crime of threat against Ibom Air, disturbance of public peace, and lies at the Ogba Magistrate court in Lagos, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment and a fine,” she said.
The Airline said reports of an increase in stealing onboard aircraft highlight the importance of passengers being extra vigilant and attentive to their belongings during flights.
“Following instructions from the crew members and taking necessary precautions can help minimise such incidents.Passengers are therefore encouraged to report any suspicious activities they observe during their flights to the crew members immediately, as early intervention can prevent potential thefts and ensure a safer travel experience for everyone on board,” she added.
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