BENGALURU - An IndiGo Airlines (6E) crew member faces serious allegations after a gold necklace went missing from a five-year-old passenger during flight 6E661 from Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) to Bangalore (BLR). The incident occurred on April 1 when flight attendant Aditi Ashwini Sharma allegedly took custody of the child during an in-flight disturbance, returning her without the 20-gram gold necklace.
The complaint was filed by Priyanka Mukherjee, who was traveling with her daughters aged five and two years. According to her account, the children began arguing shortly after takeoff, prompting cabin crew member Aditi Ashwini Sharma to offer assistance. The flight attendant suggested taking care of the elder daughter while Mukherjee attended to her younger child. Upon the aircraft’s descent to Bangalore (BLR), the flight attendant returned the child to her mother. It was then that Mukherjee discovered her daughter’s gold necklace, weighing approximately 20 grams and valued at around $30,000, was missing. When confronted, Sharma reportedly denied taking the jewelry.
The investigation faces significant hurdles due to the absence of in-flight surveillance footage. After landing in Bangalore, Mukherjee immediately reported the incident to multiple authorities including the Central Industrial Security Force, IndiGo Airlines management, airport authorities, and local police. “From the time we landed in Bengaluru till the afternoon, I didn’t get a proper response from anyone,” Mukherjee told the Times of India. “The airport authorities informed me that since the incident happened on the flight, I had to deal with the airline and police.” Police have registered a case and begun investigating the matter, though no arrests have been made. When authorities attempted to question the flight attendant, airline representatives reportedly stated that Sharma denied the allegations and maintained that no CCTV evidence was available to verify the incident.
In response to the serious allegations, IndiGo Airlines has issued a formal statement: “We are aware of a recent incident involving a staff member on flight 6E 661 from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru, regarding a concern raised by our customer. We take such matters extremely seriously and are providing full support and cooperation to the relevant authorities in carrying out the investigations.” The airline, headquartered in Gurugram, operates India’s largest passenger airline with a market share of 59.2% as of 2023. The company has not disclosed whether the accused flight attendant remains on active duty during the investigation.
This incident follows a similar case last year involving a New Zealand couple who lost approximately $4,168 while traveling in Emirates first class from Paris to Dubai. The couple, Steve Hay and his partner Andy, had stored euros in a carry-on bag while visiting the plane’s bar for about 45 minutes. Upon their return, they discovered nearly all their cash missing. Despite security officers photographing passenger passports and searching the aircraft upon landing in Dubai, the money was never recovered. “They asked if we suspected anybody. We said we wouldn’t have a clue,” Hay told the Herald.
The case against the IndiGo flight attendant has reignited concerns regarding in-flight security and accountability. The lack of surveillance systems on many commercial aircraft, especially in the cabin area, poses a significant challenge in proving allegations of theft or misconduct. This latest incident has sparked calls for stronger in-flight security measures, including the installation of discreet surveillance cameras and stricter crew background checks.
As investigations continue, Mukherjee and her family await justice and clarity, while public trust in the security of personal belongings during air travel comes under scrutiny once again. The ongoing investigation into the IndiGo crew member’s alleged theft could have broader implications for the airline industry, particularly in terms of customer trust and safety protocols. Airlines will need to reconsider and strengthen their in-flight security measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
In summary, the allegations against the IndiGo flight attendant highlight the vulnerabilities passengers face regarding the security of their personal belongings during flights. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how IndiGo will address the situation internally and externally, especially with such a high-profile case involving a young passenger.
