Housemaid arrested for stealing pilot’s luggage

By T.K.G. Kapila

Katunayaka, October 29 (Daily Mirror) - A 45-year-old Sri Lanka housemaid was arrested by airport police for stealing the luggage of a Colombian pilot.

The stolen baggage belonged to a 40-year-old Colombian pilot. The housemaid, a resident of Hunupitiya, Wattala, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport from Abu Dhabi at 8:38 a.m. on an Etihad Airways flight.

After landing at airport, the pilot and airline staff exited the plane after all the passengers had disembarked. When they collected their luggage and prepared to leave the airport, the pilot discovered that his bag was missing.

The incident was reported to the Etihad Airlines manager, and airport security officers reviewed CCTV footage. The cameras had captured a woman, who was among the first to disembark, taking the pilot’s luggage, moving to another area of the airport, and hiding the bag in a trolley carrying her own luggage.

Further inspection of the camera footage showed the woman hurriedly leaving the airport and getting into a three-wheeler.

Etihad Airlines officials reported the incident to the Katunayake Airport Police, who then proceeded to the housemaid's residence in Hunupitiya, Wattala, where she was arrested with the stolen bag.

The arrested housemaid and the stolen luggage were produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court.