① Blankets stolen even from first-class
Long-haul flights make use of the amenity kits provided by airlines. Items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, earplugs, and slippers are provided. Passengers can freely take the amenity kits offered by the airlines.
However, blankets, pillows, and headphones are communal items prohibited from being taken off the plane. Unauthorized removal of in-flight items can lead to criminal punishment. Primarily, blankets are known to be the most stolen item on an aircraft. Virgin Air of the U.K. has reported that over 1,700 in-flight blankets were stolen from first and business class over 8 months.
Also, stolen blankets are sometimes sold on the internet’s secondhand goods market. In the past, a post titled ‘Selling Korean Air First Class Blanket’ on the online secondary goods market attracted attention. The seller sold the blanket for 80,000 won (about $67). On the Korean Air blanket, there is a notice saying, ‘You can be punished if you take the blanket outside the aircraft.’
As blanket theft continues, some airlines have shown a stance to reconsider providing luxury products as amenities. The frequent theft of blankets and the airline’s inability to respond actively is also a problem.
First and business-class passengers are the airline’s core customers. Even if theft is confirmed, they can’t directly raise the issue.
United Airlines in the U.S. is selling all amenities to prevent in-flight item theft. The idea is to prevent theft by making items available for immediate purchase if passengers want them. However, it is not serving as a direct measure to prevent theft.
② Life jackets are also frequently stolen
A former flight attendant who worked for a European airline named life jackets one of the most frequently stolen items on planes. The flight attendant said, “More people than you’d think to steal the life jackets equipped under the seats.” She mentioned that “life jackets have been disappearing the most on flights from London, UK to Ibiza, Spain for a few years now.”
The flight attendant explained the reason for the frequent theft of life jackets: “It seems to have a big influence that several nightclubs in Ibiza allow free entry to tourists who bring airplane life jackets.” The flight attendant said that due to the frequent theft of life jackets on these flights, they received instructions from the airline to check whether the life jackets under the seats were intact when landing in Ibiza.
She said, “In fact, there were days when half of the things equipped in the plane disappeared,” explaining the severity of the situation. Ibiza is a small island in the Mediterranean known as a mecca for clubbers.
Stealing life jackets is not just a simple theft. The flight attendant said stealing life jackets on short-haul flights is very dangerous. This is because, on short-haul flights, only one life jacket per seat and an additional 20 spare life jackets are equipped, excluding the crew’s equipment.
She warned that if an unexpected accident occurs and life jackets are needed, there could be a significant danger if insufficient. Also, if it is confirmed that there are no life jackets on the plane, the flight may be delayed or canceled according to the regulations. Without having at least the minimum emergency equipment, including each passenger’s life jacket, the plane cannot depart.
③ In-flight theft incidents also occur
Last August, a passenger was caught stealing money from bags in the overhead compartment. At the same time, others were asleep on a late-night flight. A foreign man in his 40s stole cash and credit cards worth 3 million won (about $2,500) on a plane from Singapore to Incheon Airport. He stole cash by opening bags in the overhead compartment while passengers were asleep from 3 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.
The man stole 31 $100 Singaporean notes from a passenger’s wallet and replaced them with 5 Egyptian pounds. Eventually, the man was caught due to another passenger’s report. The Incheon International Airport Police detained the man on suspicion of theft. The police believe that the man targeted transit flights where immigration records are not left, making tracking difficult. He attempted theft four times, stealing goods in three incidents and failing in one.
In-flight thefts have occurred several times. In the past, cash and valuables worth about 300 million won (about $250,000) were stolen on a flight to Hong Kong. The BBC in the U.K. reported that in-flight thefts are increasing worldwide and that criminal organizations are known to be involved in some cases.
By. Seo Sung Min
Most Commented