Theft Discovered Aboard Cebu Pacific Flight, Flight Attendant Accused

A Cebu Pacific flight attendant is under investigation after he was allegedly caught stealing cash from passenger hand luggage aboard a charter flight from Kalibo to Changsha, China. The Philippine budget carrier is presently conducting a full investigation into theft of cash that reportedly amounts to approximately P58,000.

cebu pacific cabin crew stolen money
Image Source: Xiaodong / Weibo
According to Cebu Pacific lawyer, Paterno Mantaring Jr, the carrier has been informed of the theft and is participating in an investigation alongside an independent third-party investigating body. Reports of the incident first surfaced on Chinese social media indicating that the theft was discovered as flight 5J52 landed at Changsha Huanghua International Airport on August 11.

cebu pacific stolen money
Image Source: Xiaodong / Weibo
Passenger Ma Xiaodong, a teacher from Hunan Agricultural University, posted on Weibo that money had been stolen aboard the flight. As the aircraft was about to land, one of the passengers checked on his bag to change the SIM card in his mobile phone, which was when he discovered the money missing. Following the initial discovery, two other passengers reported money missing.

The three passengers reported that the missing cash amounted to 8,000 Yuan. When the passengers complained to the flight crew, one male flight attendant apparently ran into the on-board lavatory to allegedly conceal the evidence.

cebu pacific theft
Image Source: Xiaodong / Weibo
The passengers later requested the assistance of local authorities. Airport police immediately investigated the incident and recovered some of the missing money on-board the aircraft inside the lavatory. The suspected thief, a Cebu Pacific male flight attendant, allegedly attempted to conceal the stolen money by stashing it in the lavatory trash can and by flushing the rest down the toilet.

cebu pacific stolen money
Image Source: Xiaodong / Weibo
Although it remains unclear why the male flight attendant was identified as the prime suspect, passengers on board the flight claimed that they had observed the attendant frequently checking personal belongings in the compartment several times during the flight. Some passengers including Xiaodong believe that the entire cabin crew were co-conspirators in the theft.

Cebu Pacific tweeted on August 13, 2015:

"Cebu Pacific has been made aware of an alleged incident of theft on board one of our charter flights to China. Cebu Pacific is conducting a thorough investigation in parallel with an independent, third-party investigating body on this alleged incident. As part of standard procedure, cabin crew members of the said flight will be placed on paid leave and a non-flying status, pending the completion of the investigation. Cebu Pacific will take appropriate action depending on the result of the investigation."

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is monitoring the investigation and will seek a copy of the budget carrier's findings. The flight attendant in question will be summoned if necessary and may face criminal charges and have his license revoked if there is basis.

cebu pacific theft
Image Source: Xiaodong / Weibo
According to Rodante Joya of the Civil Aviation Authority, the aviation regulator may also review the screening process for Cebu Pacific's flight attendants. However, the agency reaffirmed that it believes this is an isolated incident and that Filipino cabin crew are still trustworthy.

10 comments:

  1. Theft aboard aircraft on regional flights in and out of China had been reported to be on the rise involving Chinese passengers working in groups wherein they prey on carry on bags stashed in overhead bins. They normally victimize pax going to toilets or asleep then take their bags to the rear of the aircraft where they are seated and rummage any valuables then return it to the bins.. the latest was on a regional flight on SQ... THEFT ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT INVOLVING CABIN CREW IS SICKENING !!! They are professionals to look after the safety of their passengers not their personal well being. Are you still going to trust the crew members and/or 5J? We know there are still bad apples around..

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  2. Yahooooo mr. Hongkong its your turn now!

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  3. What do you know, this pathetic airline makes the headline news. First was the rude employees and now they want to steal money? What more can you ask for from Cebu Pathetic?

    Is the Business not doing so well that they want to steal money? Perhaps.

    Oh, that's right. Filipinos are immune to issues like this and will likely continue flying with this piece of shit airline. Looks like I will never fly with them because I fear they will steal my shit too.

    #CebuPatheticIsPathetic

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  4. Kunwari pa itong taga Kuli Kuli. Ang English mo na lang e taga squatter ka nga! Sobra kang ipokrita!

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  5. Paano na lang kung mga dollar-bearing FilAms ang makahuli sa iyong mga crew, Cebu Pacific? Talagang hindi sila makakawala dito sa LAX o sa Hawaii! Titirisin sila ng mga Ilocanong macho-macho! Kwidaw!

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  6. Akala ko ba ay mga tindera ng sapsap sa Divisoria lang ang nananakawan? Sobra na ito, pati pasaherong estranghero ng CP ay na-iistumating din? Ganyan na ba kahirap sa bansang Felipe? OMG..........

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  7. You cant judge him unless you caught in the act that he steal money. What if this is only frame up and he is only a victim of that Chinese National.

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  8. Wala pa po tayong pruweba para husgahan natin ang taong ito. Kung kayo sa lugar nya, itataya nyo ba yong career nyo at kahihiyahan. Mas malaki yong sahod ng Flight Attendant kumpara sa nawalang pera ng mga chinise na yon. Isipin nyo nalang. Tatlo sila yong nawalan, pano nya nagawang tumayo doon sa lugar na yon at maghalungkat ng gamit ng mga pasehero eh alam nyang hind pwedeng hindi sya makita. What if, planted yon at gusto lang magkapera ng mga instik na yon? Ang tao nga naman. So judgemental.

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  9. There was a presidential jingle of Serging Osmena against Ferdinand Marcos in the pre-election for presidency during sixties entitled:

    "Hmmmmmm,,,,,nakakahiya!

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