MUMBAI- A crew member from Air India (AI) operating the New York (JFK) to Mumbai (BOM) service, AI116, has been arrested by India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for smuggling gold into the country. The arrest took place shortly after the aircraft landed in Mumbai on June 13.
Authorities recovered approximately 1.37 kilograms of concealed gold bars, valued at ₹1.41 crore (USD 169,000), from the Air India crew member. This incident highlights growing concerns over airline staff being used in international smuggling operations.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)Air India Crew Arrested for Smuggling Gold
The Air India flight AI116 from New York (JFK) to Mumbai (BOM) had concluded without initial suspicion.
Standard searches at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) did not yield any contraband. However, intensified interrogation led the crew member to reveal the hidden location of a pouch containing smuggled gold.
The suspect, who has reportedly engaged in similar activities previously, confessed to multiple gold smuggling attempts. Authorities have not disclosed the number of successful runs conducted earlier, but have confirmed that further details are being investigated.
Acting swiftly, DRI officers traced and arrested the mastermind orchestrating the operation from within India. He had been exploiting airline crew routes to bypass customs regulations and transport gold into the country. Both individuals are now in custody under the Customs Act, 1962.
The investigation continues to uncover additional participants in the smuggling network, India Today reported.
Photo: Clément AlloingRecent Arrest-Related Incidents
In a separate incident involving British Airways (BA), a cabin crew member was arrested after being discovered naked and erratic during a transatlantic flight in May 2025. The event occurred onboard a San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) service operated by an Airbus A380-800.
During meal service, the steward was reported missing, triggering a crew-wide search. He was found dancing nude inside a Club World lavatory by the in-flight supervisor. Crew members dressed him in First Class pyjamas and secured him in a seat for the rest of the journey.
Upon landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), the British Airways flight was met by police and emergency responders. The steward was arrested on suspicion of drug influence and required wheelchair assistance during his removal. An internal investigation by British Airways is underway.
Representative Photo: Qatar AirwaysQatar Airways Crew Theft
Qatar Airways (QR) has dismissed a cabin crew member following a confirmed theft incident aboard a business class flight from Doha International Airport (DOH) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
The March 28, 2025, event prompted passenger complaints to aviation authorities, as the victim criticized Qatar Airways’ limited compensation and delayed customer response.
Qatar Airways (QR) confirmed that one of its flight attendants stole a passenger’s phone from a lavatory aboard a business class flight from Doha (DOH) to Singapore (SIN).
The airline’s Security Investigations Manager acknowledged the theft, which occurred shortly before landing, when the passenger briefly left the phone behind. Tracking data later placed the phone at a crew hotel in Singapore before it was taken to the Philippines.
Despite confirming the theft and terminating the responsible crew member, the airline offered only SGD 949 (approx. £560) to cover the cost of the device.
The passenger, whose business trip was disrupted, described the compensation as inadequate and the communication from Qatar Airways as inconsistent and delayed. Qatar’s follow-up communication allegedly downplayed the incident as a matter of “unattended personal belongings,” contradicting its own internal findings.
Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Theft in Business Class on SFO-DOH Route
In a separate incident, a passenger on Qatar Airways flight QR738 from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kolkata via Doha (DOH) has filed a lawsuit after allegedly discovering $600 missing from her designer handbag. The theft reportedly occurred on February 26, 2025, aboard an Airbus A350-1000 in the QSuite Business Class cabin.
According to the legal complaint filed in California, the passenger awoke to find her handbag missing, later locating it on the lavatory floor near a crew member. An envelope containing $4,100 had $600 missing. The victim reported the issue mid-flight, but claims no action was taken and the crew member remained on duty.
After the flight, she began receiving threatening social media messages allegedly linked to the suspected attendant. The lawsuit accuses Qatar Airways of negligence, breach of contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and claims the airline failed to secure the victim’s identity and property.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalIndiGo Crew Member Accused of Child’s Gold Necklace Theft
Separately, an IndiGo Airlines (6E) crew member has been accused of stealing a child’s gold necklace during flight 6E661 from Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) to Bangalore (BLR) on April 1, 2025.
The complainant, Priyanka Mukherjee, stated that a flight attendant offered to assist with her children during an in-flight disturbance. When the five-year-old was returned at the end of the flight, her 20-gram gold necklace, worth approximately $2,500, was missing.
The accused crew member, Aditi Ashwini Sharma, denied any wrongdoing. A formal complaint has been lodged, and an investigation is reportedly underway. The incident raises questions about crew conduct and in-flight handling of passengers, particularly minors.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Delta Passenger Arrested for Stealing $4,000 Items in SLC Lounge
The post Air India New York to Mumbai Flight Crew Member Arrested appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
