"Pickpockets operate in this cabin"

We’ve all heard of pickpockets operating on bus and train networks, but most of us probably assume our valuables are relatively safe when we’re in the air.

Not so, however, according to French police, who are investigating the theft of thousands of euros from passengers on an Air France flight between Tokyo and Paris.

Le Figaro newspaper reported that about €4,000 (£3,600) in cash was stolen from five business class passengers as they caught some sleep on the overnight flight.

“There is an investigation under way,” the border police at Charles de Gaulle Airport confirmed to Reuters.

Cabin crew were alerted to the incident when a passenger awoke from her slumber only to discover that a large sum of cash in multiple currencies had been taken from her handbag.

Another alleged victim told Le Figaro: “On this flight, which takes off from Tokyo Narita at 10pm, passengers often sleep deeply before waking up shortly before arriving in Paris at around 4am.”

An Air France spokeswoman said mid-air pickpocketing is “extremely rare” on the carrier’s flights.

But she added that while the airline is responsible for baggage carried in the hold, it does not accept liability for any possessions that go missing from passengers’ hand luggage.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Creative Commons image: monstermunch99 / Flickr)

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 7:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.