Emirates flight attendant ‘steals $7000 from passengers’

An Emirates flight attendant has been accused of stealing $7000 (18,500 UAE dirhams) from three brothers as they looked after their sick father. 

The 37-year-old crew member allegedly took the cash from the siblings’ wallets during a June flight from Thailand to Dubai, the Dubai Court of First Instance heard.

Gulf News reports the brothers discovered the alleged theft after leaving their belongings unattended in business class. 

“My brothers and I went to check on my father,” one brother, 43, told prosecutors, according to Gulf News.

“When we returned to our seats, I discovered that 3700 UAE dirhams were missing from my wallet. My brothers also discovered that 14,800 UAE dirhams … were missing from their wallets.

“We alerted the cabin supervisor who took us to the business class galley and took photos of the money that wasn’t stolen from our wallets. These had serial numbers that were in sequential order with the stolen banknotes. 

“When the plane landed, police took our belongings to examine the fingerprints and they searched the plane, but the money wasn’t recovered.”

The accused, who has not been identified, pleaded not guilty. But a police corporal told the court the suspect confessed after his fingerprints matched those found on the brothers’ wallets. 

The trial continues.