A Chinese national has been arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for allegedly stealing debit and credit cards from passengers during an Air India flight from Hong Kong. The 30-year-old, identified as Benlai Pan, was taken into custody on May 14 following complaints from several travelers aboard flight AI-315. Officials suspect that Pan is part of a wider international syndicate involved in in-flight thefts.
Pan was traveling with three other Chinese nationals—Meng Guangyang, Chang Mang, and Liu Jie—who were also detained and are being questioned in connection with the case. According to police, the group is believed to operate as a coordinated unit, targeting sleeping passengers on long-haul flights to access their unattended cabin baggage. They reportedly spread out across the cabin to avoid raising suspicion, stealing valuables and discarding cards after attempting unauthorized transactions.
The incident came to light when a passenger named Prabhat Verma reported his credit card missing, prompting the Air India security team to alert airport police. The stolen card was recovered from beneath the seat of Pan, who was found acting suspiciously. Additional reports included a passenger who lost her mother’s debit card and video evidence showing Pan opening overhead compartments and rifling through bags mid-flight.
Authorities have registered a formal case and seized the suspects’ mobile phones, wallets, and other belongings for forensic analysis. Investigations are ongoing with coordination between international law enforcement agencies to uncover if the group is linked to similar crimes worldwide.
While Benlai Pan remains in custody, the roles of his associates continue to be examined, and immigration authorities across India have been notified to keep watch for any suspicious movements. This incident underscores the challenges of maintaining security on international flights and the vulnerability of travelers’ belongings despite precautions.
