Ibom Airline has announced the arrest of a passenger, who stole the laptop of a co-traveller in-flight, adding that he is currently being prosecuted.

General Manager, Marketing and Communication of the Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, Aniekan Essienette, in a statement, yesterday, said: “On the morning of July 26, during the boarding of Ibom Air flight Q1300 from Lagos to Abuja, a passenger, Ogeneochuko David, was apprehended for allegedly taking another passenger’s laptop from his bag in the overhead cabin.

“The owner of the laptop, who suspected the movement of the said David within the aircraft, decided to check where his laptop was kept and immediately realised the item was no longer there. He raised the alarm by notifying the crew members accordingly.”

He added: “A search was immediately instituted, which led to about half an hour delay, and the laptop was found with 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.

“The police have since confirmed that the suspect is a member of a syndicate, which specialises in stealing onboard an 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.”

Ibom Air said, in line with its corporate policy, 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.

The airline further recalled that one Kingsley Chinomso was alleged to have stolen the sum of 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 May 31.

“He has since been charged to Court and is presently facing trial at the Ikeja Magisterial District.

“Not too long ago, a passenger, one 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 Close Circuit Television (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”.

The Airline said the increase in stealing onboard an aircraft highlights the importance of passengers to be 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,” he added.