Victim alleges inaction by airline crew, cops begin probe
The theft allegedly happened on a Singapore-Mumbai Vistara flight
The Sahar police have registered an FIR against an unknown individual who stole a mobile phone belonging to an advocate while on a Vistara Airlines flight traveling from Singapore to Mumbai. The complainant, Avinash Hari Phatangare, 48, is an advocate and resident of Nerul in Navi Mumbai.
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Phatangare alleged that Vistara Airlines assured him that after the flight landed at Mumbai airport, they would check all passengers’ bags and have security guards inspect any suspicious passengers, but the airline did not follow through on this promise.
Speaking to mid-day, Phatangare said, “I was returning from a tour in Singapore on flight number UK-108 on May 22 to Mumbai with Vistara Airlines. Around 10.30 pm, I checked my phone, which I had placed on the front seat back cover. I fell asleep for some time. Later, I discovered that my phone was missing.”
“I searched the aeroplane for my phone but could not find it. I informed the cabin crew that my phone had been stolen and raised suspicions about a particular passenger. The cabin crew informed me that once the flight landed at Mumbai Airport, their security team would check all passengers’ bags and detain any suspicious passengers for questioning,” Phatangare said.
“After the flight landed, all passengers started deplaning, and I requested the cabin crew to stop them and conduct a search for my stolen mobile phone. I asked them to inform the police but they did not assist me. I decided to file a complaint and inform the Sahar police, resulting in the FIR against the unknown passenger who stole my mobile phone,” Phatangare added.
A police officer said, “We have registered an FIR against an unknown individual for stealing a mobile phone from a passenger on an airplane. The FIR has been registered under Section 380 of the Indian Penal Code, and a probe has been initiated.”
May 22
The day the incident happened
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