Rising Flight Theft Incidents in Asia Linked to Organized Crime

The increase in cabin theft incidents across Asia has reportedly been led by organized crime groups. These individuals have been known to board short-haul flights, including ones to Singapore, with an aim to pilfer small personal belongings of passengers. Hong Kong seems to have borne the brunt of this rising crime, housing 169 reported in-flight theft cases in the initial 10 months of 2024, involving approximately HK$4.32 million (S$700,000) worth of valuables, a whopping 75% surge from the previous year.

Circumstances surrounding in-flight thefts often pose great challenges in detection and investigation. These organized criminals adhere to a modus operandi of operating in duos to steel from unsuspecting passengers. Their dynamic and swift operations often involve boarding a subsequent flight from Singapore almost immediately after their arrival at the Changi Airport. They tend to misappropriate some cash and a couple of credit cards, careful not to take the entire wallet as it might alert the victim sooner.

Swift and detailed reporting plays a critical role in helping law enforcement officers to trace and intercept these criminals before they board their next flight. Passengers are urged to exercise constant vigilance, keeping their valuables close to themselves at all times. International Air Transport Association or IATA, an umbrella organization representing nearly 300 airlines, underlined their shared worries over the sharp rise in cases of in-flight thefts over the past year and a half.

Various flight routes across Asia have been the most affected. As per some reports, Malaysia has experienced a substantial rise in onboard theft incidents. Approximately 146 such cases were reported in the first 10 months of 2024 alone, marking a significant increase from 88 reports the previous year and a mere 33 in 2022. Vietnamese authorities shared that these thieves often avoid checked-in luggage and buy tickets at the last minute, constantly switching flights and airlines to fly under the radar.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) shed light on their cabin crew’s training that teaches them to stay alert and notify the authorities about any suspicious activity during flights. In case of a suspected theft, both SIA and Scoot cooperate fully with the authorities, offering complete support to the affected customer. During their general meeting in India, IATA pointed out most of the thefts seem to be orchestrated from China, a hub for these organized crime syndicates.

Out of five people charged over cabin theft in 2025, four were Chinese nationals. There was a sudden spike in in-flight thefts correlating with the rebound of air travel post-Covid-19 pandemic. And, this trend is not unique to Asia but has been observed globally. In the time span between January to May alone, three individuals were prosecuted in Singapore for onboard theft, which was up from a single charge in the same period in 2024.

More recent events saw two Chinese nationals, Liu Xitang (35) and Wang Wei (40), face charges for alleged theft from passengers during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. They were blamed for stealing $169 in cash and a couple of debit cards from a fellow passenger. In a similar incident in May, a 51-year-old Chinese national, Zhang Kun, pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and over $200 cash on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in March.

The Airport Police Division is proactive in preemptively identifying potential members of these crime syndicates. They analyze common patterns of behavior – frequent travel, multiple transit flights with short layovers of only two or three hours in between. Data analytics plays a key role in spotting such individuals as they arrive in Singapore, providing a significant boost to ongoing investigations.

Unsurprisingly, these criminals don’t discriminate based on travel classes and are known to operate across all of them. Another rising concern at the Changi Airport is theft in transit areas, particularly in shops, with 37 instances reported between January to May. This marked a reduction from 109 cases in 2024 and 129 the previous year. Some travelers seem to have grown brazen in their crimes, often walking into stores, taking whatever they please, and simply walking out without paying.

If successful the first time, these criminals only seem to grow bolder in their exploits. To tackle this escalating issue, the Airport Police Division has decided to increase their presence in the form of patrolling robots. These high-tech assets are fitted with sensors and cameras that can record video footage, allowing for easier communication between the public and officers.

The Airport Police Division plans to unveil a new and improved patrolling robot, fondly named Gibson, later in 2025. This novel addition brings the capability of transporting an officer, potentially enhancing their policing efforts at the airport. These preventive measures aim to deter these criminals, ensuring passenger safety and avoiding future instances of theft.

The recurrent cases of in-flight thefts are clearly not an anomaly but part of an organized and systemic crime. Besides adopting a vigilant approach, individual travelers are also advised to keep their belongings secure and within reach at all times. The airline staff, particularly those on board, play an important role in creating a safe travel environment, by being watchful of suspicious activities and counteracting the same through their training and procedural interventions.

With the overt presence of theft syndicates, the responsibility also lies with the airlines to implement stringent security measures. These include ensuring robust training of cabin crews, staying aware of potential threats in different routes and ensuring adequate in-flight security. The law enforcement agencies are key to the successfully thwarting such incidents through rapid response, extensive investigation and judicial processing of these criminals.

The direct correlation between the resurgence of air travel after the global pandemic and the rise in in-flight theft highlights an unfortunate opportunistic exploitation by these crime syndicates. This also underscores the importance of passengers not letting down their guard, even as the industry recovers and air travel becomes a commonplace activity once again.

It is in the collective interest of the aviation industry, law enforcement agencies, and passengers to address this issue collaboratively. Maintaining vigilance, fostering a sense of shared responsibility, and leveraging advanced technology are key to securing air travel and mitigating the impact of such organized crime activities.

The recurrent crimes at the bustling Changi airport have also led to explorations of innovative security measures such as the deployment of patrolling robots. By harnessing technology’s power, law enforcement agencies aim to maintain a strong police presence, further deterring potential criminals and ensuring a safer and more secure environment for passengers.