A Chinese passenger was caught red-handed stealing another person’s suitcase on board a Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City flight earlier this week.

A source confirmed on Wednesday that the victim had reported the theft to Tan Binh District police who transferred it to the municipal Department of Police for investigation.

Preliminary information details that the incident occurred on Monday night aboard a Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

The victim, 49-year-old D.M.C., a Ho Chi Minh City resident, said his seat was 17E and his suitcase was in the overhead bin of row 18ABC.

At around 10:15 pm, someone opened the 18ABC overhead bin, C. recalled. 

He then checked on his bag to find that his brown leather carryon, which contained VND14 million (US$602) and a smartphone worth over VND20 million ($860), was missing.

C. looked around and noticed another passenger, a 39-year-old Chinese man, holding a brown briefcase for a short moment before putting it under his seat.

The victim then requested assistance from the head flight attendant.

When the Chinese passenger realized he was being filmed by the victim and flight attendant, he put the bag back in the overhead bin where he had found it.

Upon arrival, C. reported the case to competent authorities at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The Tan Binh District police unit later collected statements from the victim and several eyewitnesses.

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