Drama as passenger steals N200,000 aboard flight

Posted by admin Headlines Thursday, April 5th, 2012

THERE was a mild drama on an Arik Air flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, heading to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, on Wednesday, when a passenger (name withheld), stole N200,000 belonging to another passenger on the business class.

According to information gathered, the passenger stood up in the aircraft and opened the overhead cabin as if he was searching for missing items in his luggage, but picked the N200,000 that another passenger kept in the bag.

He was, however, sighted by other passengers while attempting to keep the stolen money in his own luggage.

The crew immediately intervened by confronting the male suspect, who was said to have occupied seat 3C on the aircraft with flight number W3 162 ABV- LOS.

On landing at the Lagos airport, the suspect was handed over to security officials of Arik Air, who subsquently handed him over to aviation security personnel attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who in turn transfered the passenger with the exhibit to the domestic wing police station of the airport for further investigation and possible prosecution.

An official of FAAN, who confirmed the development, said that the authorities were briefed about the incident, but added that the matter was being handled by the police.

A staff of Arik Air also confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune on phone.

However, the divisional police officer at the domestic wing station said she was yet to be briefed, though that the development could have been reported to the station.

-Tribunewp_posts