Final week, I wrote a few lawsuit filed in the US in opposition to Qatar Airways, the place a passenger accused a flight attendant of stealing money from her whereas inflight. I used to be skeptical of some facets of the claims. Nonetheless, right here’s one other story of an analogous scenario, as reported by PYOK, the place the airline reportedly confirmed that the inflight theft occurred.
Passenger has telephone stolen on Qatar Airways flight
A Reddit person shares a latest incident that occurred on March 28, 2025, on a Qatar Airways enterprise class flight from Doha to Singapore. Simply earlier than touchdown, the passenger reportedly went to the rest room, and by accident left his telephone behind. He realized it nearly instantly, and upon returning to his seat, he went again to retrieve it, however the bathroom was occupied.
A male crew member exited the rest room a second later, and the telephone was gone. The passenger reported this instantly upon touchdown, and the airline stated it could examine. In line with the passenger, he was quickly contacted by a safety investigations supervisor, who confirmed the incident, and recognized the crew member as accountable, stating that the crew member was dismissed from his position.
The passenger was capable of observe his telephone to a location in Singapore (which matched the crew’s resort), and later, to the Philippines. The passenger was ultimately supplied 949 SGD, the price of a substitute telephone, and was requested to signal a launch and discharge kind.
The passenger remains to be annoyed with Qatar Airways
Regardless of Qatar Airways seemingly investigating the incident and terminating the worker for the theft, in addition to reimbursing the passenger for the price of the telephone, he’s nonetheless annoyed. He’s indignant that he was ignored for weeks by buyer care, regardless of being advised he’d be contacted imminently. He’s additionally not completely satisfied that one of many responses mischaracterized the incident as “unattended private belongings,” though it was acknowledged as theft.
Lastly, he’s not completely satisfied that he was supplied no compensation for the disruption to his work, as he had conferences canceled, needed to go to the police, needed to lock accounts, and so forth. The passenger concludes:
I had switched to Qatar after years of loyalty to Singapore Airways. The theft was unhealthy sufficient, however the best way they’ve responded, and the way lengthy it’s dragged on, has been exhausting. I’ve executed all the pieces I can internally, and I’m nonetheless prepared to resolve this straight. However at this level, I’m questioning if I have to go public in an even bigger manner (media, authorized, and so forth.).
My tackle this Qatar Airways theft incident
To start with, I’m shocked that some Qatar Airways flight attendants would have interaction in such silly theft. I imply, a telephone is simple sufficient to trace to a sure location, and you realize that in a rustic like Qatar, you’re going to be instantly fired and deported if that is found. I think about the flight attendant will need to have been prepared to go away anyway, or else he wouldn’t have put his job on the road in such a dangerous manner.
Now, I feel Qatar Airways deserves some credit score for correctly investigating the incident, dismissing the worker, and reimbursing the man for the telephone. I simply must think about that many different airways would’ve by no means correctly investigated this, and nothing would’ve come of this.
Now, do I get his frustration that this was drawn out, and that he hasn’t been supplied additional compensation? Certain. However I’m additionally unsure there’s extra to this story that warrants going “public in an even bigger manner,” when he has been reimbursed for his loss, not less than straight. He’s contemplating authorized motion? I suppose in the US that would appear completely regular, however in different international locations, I’m extra skeptical…
Backside line
A Qatar Airways flight attendant has reportedly been fired after an investigating revealed that he stole a passenger’s telephone. If a flight attendant goes to steal one thing from a passenger, a telephone looks like one of many riskier issues to take, given how it may be tracked.
I feel the airline deserves credit score for correctly investigating this and taking motion. And the airline did reimburse the passenger for the price of the telephone. He’s nonetheless actually indignant in regards to the lack of compensation past that. Look, I get it, I feel some kind of gesture of goodwill can be acceptable. However I additionally suppose the airline has executed much more than different carriers would’ve.
What do you make of this Qatar Airways theft incident?
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