Airlines told to strengthen security on board aircraft
Published on: Tuesday, May 07, 2024
Goh noted that such incident is nothing new but has become rampant in recent years, warranting the urgent attention of global airlines and airport authorities, including those in Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur: President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) Tan Sri TC Goh urged airlines to pay attention to and strengthen security on board aircraft.
He suggested setting up surveillance cameras in the cabin’s overhead luggage area and other necessary precautions to prevent in-flight theft.
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He said this is necessary in order to prevent passengers facing financial losses and unnecessary inconvenience.
He was responding to the recent media reports of passengers experiencing in-flight thefts with video evidence recorded by other passengers.
Goh noted that such incident is nothing new but has become rampant in recent years, warranting the urgent attention of global airlines and airport authorities, including those in Malaysia.
He noted that the media had reported similar cases to happen mainly on long-haul flights and at night.
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“The perpetrators often take advantage of passengers slumber to open the overhead luggage compartments, pretending to retrieve their personal belongings, and take the opportunity to open other passengers’ luggage, especially handbags, and steal items,” Goh said.
He hoped that these incidents were isolated, but “I do not rule out the possibility that it could be the modus operandi of a rogue syndicate.”
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“If it involves organised and professional means, the consequences will be unimaginable!” he said in a statement.
He warned that while such incidents could occur abroad or on foreign airlines’ aircraft, they could also occur on domestic airlines in Malaysia if precautions are not taken promptly.
Goh who is also is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), and a frequent passenger on both international and domestic flights, said that although the media did not mention the affected airlines in its recent reports, the reported cases also included flights from Kuala Lumpur.
“This matter certainly warrants the urgent attention of the Malaysian government, airport authorities, and all airlines, and they should take necessary precautionary and preventive measures to promptly address it,” he said.
He went on to assert that, as the country struggles for economic recovery post-pandemic era and embraces the Visit Malaysia Year, such unpleasant incidents must be promptly and seriously addressed.
He suggested that airlines install surveillance camera systems in the cabin’s overhead luggage area to observe the movement of carry-on luggage throughout the flight not aiming to “track” passengers or to capture their appearances.
“To ensure that passengers’ carry-on luggage is placed in the overhead compartments above their seats or, in the case of compartments overloaded, to place them as close to the passenger and within their sight as possible.
“Any carry-on luggage, including handbags and laptop bags, should be locked.
“Passengers should stay vigilant and adopt the spirit of a neighbourhood watch, especially on long-haul and night time flights.
“Passengers and flight attendants especially on long-haul and night-time flights should take necessary action against the behaviour of suspicious passengers, such as those who frequently get up to open overhead luggage compartments far away from their seating are.
“And to increase vigilance and awareness, as well as necessary monitoring, against potential in-flight theft,” he said.
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