Bangalore, India – April 6, 2025: A shocking case of alleged IndiGo flight theft has surfaced involving a crew member of IndiGo Airlines, India’s largest carrier. A gold necklace worth approximately $30,000 (20 grams) reportedly vanished from a five-year-old passenger during flight 6E661 from Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) to Bangalore (BLR) on April 1, 2025.
Allegations Against IndiGo Crew Member
The complaint, filed by passenger Priyanka Mukherjee, accuses flight attendant Aditi Ashwini Sharma of being involved in the mysterious disappearance. According to Mukherjee, her two young daughters, aged five and two, got into an argument mid-flight. To help calm the situation, Sharma offered to take care of the older child so Mukherjee could manage the younger one.
However, the situation took a troubling turn. Upon descent into Bangalore, Sharma returned the child — but without the necklace she had been wearing at the time of the handover. The missing jewelry was later valued at approximately ₹25 lakh INR ($30,000 USD).
When questioned, the crew member denied any knowledge of the missing necklace.
Investigation Complications: No CCTV on Board
The case has become increasingly difficult due to the lack of onboard surveillance, a common issue in many commercial aircrafts. Immediately after landing, Mukherjee lodged complaints with the:
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- IndiGo Airlines management
- Bangalore Airport authorities
- Local police
Despite her prompt action, Mukherjee claims she received no substantial support for hours. “From the time we landed in Bengaluru till the afternoon, I didn’t get a proper response from anyone,” she told The Times of India.
Eventually, a police case was registered, and authorities began formal investigations. When the police tried to question the flight attendant, IndiGo representatives stated that Sharma denied the allegations, and reiterated the absence of CCTV footage to support or refute the claim.
IndiGo’s Official Response
In a public statement, IndiGo Airlines confirmed awareness of the incident:
“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 has not disclosed whether the accused flight attendant has been suspended or remains on active duty during the investigation. IndiGo, headquartered in Gurugram, currently holds 59.2% market share in India’s aviation sector.
In-Flight Theft Not an Isolated Incident
This incident draws attention to a growing concern about thefts on commercial flights, particularly when passengers briefly leave their seats or are separated from children or belongings.
A similar case surfaced in Dubai involving a 37-year-old Egyptian flight attendant with Emirates, who was charged in 2018 for allegedly stealing $7,656 in cash from business class passengers traveling from Thailand to Dubai (DXB). The stolen currency was traced using sequential serial numbers, and the crew member was identified through fingerprint analysis on one of the victim’s wallets.
Additionally, in 2023, a New Zealand couple lost over $4,000 in an Emirates First Class cabin while they were visiting the onboard bar. Despite extensive searches and documentation, the money was never recovered.
Safety Concerns & Call for In-Flight Surveillance
As incidents like these continue to emerge, aviation experts and passengers alike are calling for enhanced in-flight security measures, including:
- Onboard CCTV installation
- Strict crew background checks
- Improved passenger-crew protocols during emergencies or disturbances
The IndiGo gold necklace case remains under investigation, and authorities are working to piece together events without surveillance footage—a challenging task in modern aviation.
For Mukherjee and her family, justice remains uncertain, but the case has undoubtedly raised serious questions about passenger safety, accountability, and transparency in Indian air travel.
