Morning Shot: High Altitude, Higher Risks? Tackling the Rise of In-Flight Theft

Across Asia, reports of passengers having valuables stolen mid-flight are on the rise with some cases pointing to coordinated criminal groups targeting specific routes. In 2024 alone, Hong Kong saw a 75% surge in cases, while airports in Tokyo and Singapore have reported similar upticks. In Singapore, there were 4 reported cases between January 2023 and September 2024, with one case involving a man who stole the equivalent of about S$120,000 from a jeweller on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight in March 2024. The issue has grown serious enough for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to put it on the agenda this year, highlighting concerns around onboard security and cross-border enforcement.

This Morning Shot episode explores what’s driving this trend, why certain routes are more vulnerable, and what’s being done, or not done, to deter in-flight theft. Dr. Alan Tan, Professor, NUS Law School (specialising in Aviation Law) joins the Breakfast Show to share his insights.

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