Translated with AI
A family from Kazakhstan encountered an unusual incident on a flight from Dubai to Istanbul: a large sum of cash in their carry-on luggage was swapped for one-dollar bills. After boarding, police officers were the first to escort the passengers and the suspect off the plane, Tengri Travel reports.
According to the passenger, she was flying on a Flydubai flight with her husband and two young children. The family was carrying cash intended for a relative's medical treatment in Turkey. The money was in an envelope in their carry-on baggage in the overhead bin.
Around the fourth hour of the night flight, the woman noticed a man sitting a few rows behind her. She said the passenger approached the overhead bin above the family's seats, placed something there, and closed the compartment.
An initial search of the backpack revealed nothing suspicious: the envelope was still there, and the bills were tangibly present. However, after a more thorough inspection, the couple discovered the money was missing.
"All our bills in the envelope were swapped for one-dollar bills. 80 dollars worth of one dollar," the Kazakh woman said.
The couple approached the man they had previously spotted near the overhead compartment. According to the woman, her husband offered to return the money without calling the police. The man agreed and handed over the cash. There was no conflict between the passengers.
The plane's crew stated that they could not bring charges against the passenger themselves and only had the right to call the police after landing.
After landing in Istanbul, all passengers were asked to remain seated. Police officers boarded the plane and were the first to escort the family and the man involved in the incident.
The victims were offered to file a formal complaint. However, the family refused, as the money had already been returned, and the necessary procedures, according to police, could take several hours.
The couple also asked law enforcement to record the man's details in case the incident was part of a larger scheme to commit thefts on board airplanes.
Following the incident, the family decided to no longer carry large amounts of cash in their carry-on luggage.
Security experts recommend that passengers keep documents, bank cards, and large sums of cash on their person—in inner pockets or body bags. Valuables are not recommended to be left in carry-on baggage in overhead bins, especially on overnight flights.
