In-flight theft — in which wallets or smartphones vanish while passengers sleep — is rising on flights across Asia and Europe. Recently a well-known South Korean travel YouTuber even came face to face with a passenger stealing belongings before his eyes in a top-tier first-class suite costing tens of millions of won.
In-Flight Theft Rises on Long-Haul, Overnight Asian Routes
According to the U.S. news outlet Axios, thefts targeting smartphones, tablets, wallets and wireless earbuds are increasing on flights between Asia and Europe. The losses are said to be especially frequent on long-haul and overnight flights, when passengers fall asleep.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also found in June, based on reports from member airlines, that reports of in-flight theft had risen noticeably over the past 12 to 18 months, with the trend particularly pronounced on Asian routes.
The scale of the losses is considerable. Hong Kong recorded 169 in-flight theft cases in 2025, the most on record, and the value of items stolen from January to October that year reached $700,000 (about 1 billion won). Flights landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia also saw 146 in-flight theft cases last year.
Losses have also been confirmed in Japan. Police at Tokyo's Narita International Airport handled 19 in-flight theft cases from January to October 2024.
"Who Would Think a Thief Would Strike in First Class"
Against this backdrop, a well-known South Korean travel YouTuber recently fell victim to in-flight theft in a top-tier first-class cabin.
The travel YouTuber "Ttoddeonam," who has about 400,000 subscribers, described the incident in a video posted to his YouTube channel on the 23rd, recounting an experience while using "The Residence," the highest-class cabin on Etihad Airways.
The Residence is a self-contained suite at the front of the upper deck of the A380 aircraft, made up of three spaces: a living room, a separate bedroom and a private bathroom with a shower. Separated from the standard first-class cabin for greater privacy, it also comes with a dedicated flight attendant.
In the past, the cabin was known as an ultra-premium suite whose one-way fare alone exceeded $20,000 to $30,000 (about 28 million to 42 million won) depending on the route and season, and in some cases climbed to around $60,000 (about 83 million won). It is now offered as an upgrade from a first-class ticket, with the upgrade cost ranging from about $3,200 to $5,500 (about 4.4 million to 7.6 million won) by route. According to the YouTuber, the flight cost 12 million won one way.
Yet the theft occurred even in this top-tier cabin. While Ttoddeonam was filming the bedroom inside the suite, a foreign man suddenly walked in. At first he thought it was a flight attendant, but the man picked up a headset in the cabin and put it in his own bag.
When Ttoddeonam asked, "What are you doing," the man asked back, "Is this your seat?" When Ttoddeonam pointed to the headset in the bag, the man only then took it back out and left the cabin.
The situation did not end there. After the man left, Ttoddeonam checked the cabin and found that a snack basket that had been there was also gone. He immediately told a flight attendant that someone had entered his room and taken items. The attendant apologized and provided a new snack basket.
Ttoddeonam said, "Who would think a thief would come into first class, into The Residence," and urged, "When you fly, keep your valuables close." After the video was released, Etihad Airways confirmed the incident through his social media and requested his booking information.
They Target Passengers While Asleep: "Use Locks on Cabin Bags"
In-flight theft often targets long-haul and overnight flights when passengers fall asleep, or times when there is frequent movement about the cabin. It exploits the fact that, on flights carrying large numbers of passengers, flight attendants cannot keep watch over overhead bins and bags at all times.
Some cases have shown signs of organized crime, with several people dividing roles. One person finds a bag holding valuable items and removes them while another watches the surroundings. Other methods cited include buying tickets at the last minute or boarding without checked baggage, and frequently changing airlines and routes to avoid being tracked.
Some airlines are deploying plainclothes security officers on higher-risk routes. In Japan, Narita International Airport police and others have run campaigns urging passengers to be careful with their valuables.
Experts advise keeping passports, wallets, mobile phones and jewelry within reach rather than in overhead bins, and using locks on cabin bags. If passengers discover items are missing, they should tell a flight attendant before leaving the aircraft to allow prompt confirmation and a police response.
