Business Class Thief Liu Ming Receives 20-Month Jail Term for Mid-Air Crime

Rising Threat of In-Flight Theft

The aviation industry faces a growing challenge as criminal syndicates increasingly target business class passengers on international flights. A Chinese national who boarded a Singapore Airlines flight with the intention of stealing from business-class passengers has been jailed for 20 months, in what prosecutors describe as a case underscoring the expanding threat of mid-air thefts.

Details of the Crime

Liu Ming, a 26-year-old Chinese national, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft. The act was financed by a criminal syndicate and Liu had boarded the flight specifically to steal high-value items from business class passengers. The incident occurred on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ495 on Aug 8, travelling from Dubai to Singapore.

The items stolen included foreign currency amounting to about S$12,000, a digital device worth about S$2,100, cigars amounting to S$5,400, and two watches valued at around S$86,000, with the total value of items stolen approximately S$107,500.

Investigation and Prosecution

Liu was arrested when the plane landed at Changi Airport. Prosecutors said he remained uncooperative, continuing to insist he had simply reached for the wrong bag despite his own luggage — different in both “appearance and material” — being stored directly above his seat.

“The proliferation of theft offences onboard Singapore’s national carrier would tarnish its reputation, and that of Singapore’s tourist industry,” prosecutors warned. Passengers cannot monitor their belongings throughout a flight and cabin crew cannot keep watch over every aisle at all times, making detection particularly challenging.

Implications for Air Travel Security

The court agreed, handing Liu a 20-month jail term. This sentence reflects growing judicial concern about organised criminal operations targeting premium airline passengers. The case serves as a stark reminder for travellers to remain vigilant about their valuables, even in premium cabins, and highlights the need for enhanced security measures to protect passengers from sophisticated theft syndicates operating in the aviation sector.