New Delhi, May 17 — In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police has arrested a Chinese national for allegedly stealing valuables during an Air India Flight from Hong Kong to Delhi, exposing what appears to be a well-organized international in-flight theft syndicate. The accused, identified as Benlai Pan (30), was apprehended upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on May 14. Three other Chinese nationals traveling with him have been detained for interrogation.
✈️ Theft on Air INDIA Flight AI-315
According to DCP Usha Rangnani of IGI Airport Police, the incident came to light after multiple passengers reported thefts during flight AI-315 from Hong Kong to Delhi. After the flight landed, Air India’s vigilance and terminal staff immediately alerted airport security and police, leading to swift action by the IGIA police team.
One of the victims, Prabhat Verma (seat 12C), reported that his Bank of America credit card had gone missing from his bag. Flight crew had earlier alerted him to suspicious activity around his seat. Upon checking, the card was found beneath seat 14C, where Benlai Pan was spotted sitting, despite holding a ticket for seat 23C.
Another passenger, Praashi, revealed that her mother’s HDFC debit card was also stolen during the flight. A third passenger, Nafees Fatima, managed to record a video showing the accused opening cabin bags and rifling through belongings—footage that proved instrumental in confirming the theft.
👥 Three More Chinese Nationals Detained
Following the initial arrest, three associates traveling with Pan were identified and detained:
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Meng Guangyang (51)
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Chang Mang (42)
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Liu Ji (45)
They are currently being interrogated to determine the scale and network of the theft operations.
🕵️♂️ International Syndicate Modus Operandi Revealed
Preliminary investigation suggests that the group had a well-coordinated system for targeting passengers on long-haul international flights:
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They booked seats strategically apart to avoid raising suspicion.
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Operated mostly while passengers were asleep.
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After stealing cards or cash, they quickly discarded or destroyed items to reduce chances of detection.
👜 Items Recovered and Investigation Ongoing
From the possession of the accused, police recovered:
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The stolen Bank of America credit card
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Multiple wallets and bags
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Several electronic gadgets
All items are currently under forensic examination. Authorities are also probing whether the group was involved in similar incidents on other international routes.
🚨 Security Advisory
The IGI Airport Police has urged airlines and passengers to stay vigilant, especially during overnight flights. Crew members have also been advised to keep a close watch for unusual movement around passenger luggage.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.