A male pilot of flagship carrier Vietnam Airlines, whose name is still unknown, has been detained in Japan since Tuesday for “attempting to carry unpaid items out of a local shop,” according to a source of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The man, a member of the flight crew on board an Airbus A330, was caught red-handed carrying merchandise in his pocket which he had not yet paid for while passing through a detector at the shop, the location of which has also not been revealed.

In the details of the case submitted to the carrier, the pilot, 56, chose to buy some goods in a shop near the hotel he stayed, but discovered he had not carried his passport along.

He then suggested that the store temporarily keep the goods he had picked up along with his bag for him so that he could return to the hotel to get the passport.

But when he left the store, the alarm of the detecting equipment went off, and the shop employees immediately checked the man to discover that he was carrying some unpaid for merchandise in his pocket.

He was soon after handed over to Japanese police for detention and investigation.

The source told Tuoi Tre that Vietnam Airlines representatives in Japan have offered to pay the administrative penalty, saying the pilot did not deliberately want to take those items without paying.

Talking to Tuoi Tre, a Vietnam Airlines leader admitted the leadership was informed of the incident.

According to the leader, the airline’s representatives in Japan are actively working with local authorities so that the pilot can be bailed soon, as the carrier believes that this “is not too serious.”

However, as of Wednesday evening, the man had not yet been released.

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