IATA to Tackle Rising Incidents of In-Flight Theft, Particularly on China-Origin Flights

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced forthcoming actions to address the growing issue of in-flight theft, particularly incidents believed to be part of organized criminal activity originating from China.

Speaking at IATA’s Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, confirmed that the association’s Security Advisory Group will convene in the coming weeks to develop enhanced countermeasures.

“Our security advisory group is planning to meet in the next week or two to discuss what we could potentially do to better manage this – out of China mostly, where it seems to be very organised,” said Careen.

Recent data underscores the urgency of the matter. Hong Kong authorities reported 169 cases of in-flight theft involving HK$4.32 million (US$561,600) in valuables during the first ten months of 2024—a 75% increase over the same period in 2023. Similar trends have been observed at Tokyo's Narita International Airport and in Singapore, where four individuals have been charged with in-flight theft since January 2023.

IATA is considering a range of responses, including enhanced onboard security measures and closer cooperation with national governments to ensure appropriate penalties are enforced. “How we deal with that, whether it’s security on board or cooperation from local governments in terms of the appropriate penalties... those are the types of things that we will see come out of this,” Careen noted.

The association is also focused on other pressing safety concerns within the aviation sector, including turbulence, fire hazards posed by portable power banks, and the need for improved accident reporting procedures.

Careen emphasized the importance of unified standards on power bank handling, in light of varying restrictions implemented by airlines in Asia and the United States. “There’s nothing wrong with airlines adjusting their procedures based on their own safety risk assessments,” he said.

On the issue of accident reporting, Careen stressed the importance of timely investigations, highlighting that 107 reports from incidents between 2018 and 2023 remain incomplete. “You can’t prevent the next [accident] from happening without understanding what happened in the first place,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Careen reaffirmed the industry's strong safety record. “We’re still the safest mode of transportation,” he said. “However, we never rest on our laurels in aviation.”