According to a Tuoi Tre source, the Tan Son Nhat Airport security force is detaining a Chinese national who was caught stealing from another passenger on a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City yesterday, Apr 30.

Chinese man deported for stealing on flight

Chinese nationals caught pick-pocketing on flight

The man, Man Xin Gao, 41, committed the theft while on board the Vietnam Airlines (VNA) flight numbered VN257 yesterday afternoon.

Man stole a handbag from a passenger and  rummaged it at the back of the plane.

A female passenger, who is a VNA flight attendant, taped his entire act with her camera before informing the flight crew.

According to the case file, Man’s passport showed that he has travelled many times to Southeast Asian countries. He usually stays for one day only in each country.

In 2013, the airport security force discovered a 10-member group of foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, who purposefully travel on VNA flights to steal other passengers’ properties.

However, only five of them have been arrested so far.

The Apr 30 theft is the fourth incident this year in which Chinese citizens have been caught stealing other passengers’ possessions aboard VNA planes.

On Jan 19, crewmembers on a VNA flight from Bangkok to HCMC witnessed two Chinese passengers, Zhang Giang and Ren Guanghan, both 41, stealing from another passenger.

The men initially denied the accusation, but after the crewmembers showed them a video recording that proved the theft, they pleaded guilty.

They were then added to the list of passengers for whom VNA will not provide transport services.  

In another on-flight case, three Chinese nationals were also deported from Vietnam after they were caught stealing money from another passenger on a VNA flight on Jan 16.

These thieves colluded with each other in an attempt to steal US$700 from an Indonesian passenger on flight VN630 from Indonesia to Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines has given priority to crime prevention since police in Hong Kong have issued warnings about thefts on some flight routes to the special administrative region.

The national flag carrier busted 18 cases in 2012. It recorded a significant drop in the number of crimes in 2013.

Vietnam Airlines advises their passengers on flights to China, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia to keep a close watch on their hand luggage and not to put them in the wrong place.