Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) has said it suspects an employee of an outsourcing firm working at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport might have stolen items from the luggage of a couple taking THAI flights between Japan and Phuket last week.
The airline posted a message on its Facebook page expressing regret over the incident yesterday.
The message came after information had been shared through social media that some personal items in the checked-in luggage of the pair went missing on a flight they took from Tokyo to Bangkok and on a onward flight from Bangkok to Phuket on Tuesday.
According to the airline's message, luggage transfers involve scores of handlers and several service points.
As the passengers had travelled through Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports, THAI contacted Airports of Thailand Plc, which supervises the two airports, to review CCTV footage of the ground crew after the couple's luggage was unloaded from the aircraft.
Citing the preliminary probe, the airline said it found a suspect handling luggage who acted suspiciously. The person was employed by an outsourcing company contracted by THAI, it said.
The airline said it would contact the outsourcing firm and police to seek an arrest of the suspect, adding that any further developments will be announced later.
According to the Thai flag carrier, the company pays serious attention to handling baggage transfers and any staff found to have stolen belongings of passengers would be dealt with swiftly and face both disciplinary and legal action.
The airline would be responsible for losses of the personal items in line with the ceiling prices stipulated on the air tickets.
The case came to light after "THE SNAP THAILAND" Facebook page shared the details.
According to the man's post, he said he had locked the two pieces of luggage before handing them to the THAI check-in counter at Narita airport.
The passenger said when he unpacked his bags, he found that eight out of 12 watches brought from Japan had disappeared, adding that various cosmetics, worth 25,000 baht, belonging to his girlfriend were also missing.
