Airline Passenger Charged with Theft of Over $23,000 on Scoot Flight

Zhang Xiuqiang faces up to three years in jail if found guilty, amid rising incidents of in-flight thefts.

Zhang Xiuqiang, a 52-year-old Chinese national, has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing over $23,000 from three passengers on a Scoot flight from Vietnam to Singapore.
Zhang is accused of stealing $20,950 from a black backpack, $1,000 and $700 from an envelope in a grey bag, and $123 from another backpack.
The theft was reported by a fellow passenger, leading to Zhang's arrest upon landing at Changi Airport in Singapore.
If found guilty, Zhang could face up to three years in jail and a fine.
Hong Kong police have recently warned of a spike in thefts on planes, with 13 cases of stolen cash and credit cards reported in the first nine months of 2023.