There was mild drama aboard an Ibom Air flight scheduled for takeoff to Abuja on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, when a passenger was caught stealing N290,000 from a fellow traveler’s luggage.
The incident occurred on the 7 a.m. flight shortly before departure. According to eyewitnesses, a foreign passenger raised an alarm after discovering that the money he had kept in his bag stored in the overhead luggage compartment had gone missing.
Cabin crew immediately intervened, and another passenger reported seeing the suspect — who was later deboarded — handling the foreigner’s bag moments earlier. Although the man initially denied any wrongdoing and a search of his hand luggage yielded nothing, another passenger suggested a body search.
At that point, the suspect reportedly became visibly uneasy. Upon searching him, the missing N290,000 was found tucked inside his socks and concealed on his seat.
Airport security personnel were subsequently called in, and the suspect was deboarded and handed over to security operatives for further investigation.
The swift response of the crew and alertness of passengers prevented what could have been a successful theft midair.