A passenger, identified as Vitalis Nwabuzor, has been apprehended for allegedly stealing N1 million aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Port Harcourt.
The incident occurred on July 27, on flight P47192. According to the airline’s spokesman, Stanley Oliseh, Nwabuzor took the money, which was in a brown envelope, from another passenger’s possession but was caught by the owner and airline staff during the flight.
He had initially taken the passenger’s computer bag from the overhead cabin and later returned it after taking the money.
The spokesman’s statement reads in part, “During the flight, Nwabuzor took another passenger’s computer bag from the overhead cabin, took the brown envelope containing the money, put the computer bag in another luggage compartment, and moved to an empty seat at the back of the aircraft.
“He was one of the first few to disembark despite the announcement of proper disembarkation sequence by the crew.
“He was eventually caught and the money retrieved from him. Different currencies in different denominations were found on him.”
Olisa stated that the passenger was immediately handed over to the security operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for onward transfer to the police for further investigations.
He was later released on bail since the owner of the money decided not to press charges against him.
Olisa assured that Air Peace staff would maintain a high level of security awareness and advised passengers to be vigilant with their belongings while onboard.