Prosecutors lose appeal after Emirates flight attendant is cleared of theft

Crew member was accused of stealing from passengers on a Dubai-bound flight

Like other carriers and transportation companies, Emirates is taking measures to offset a slide in demand due to the impact of coronavirus. 

Prosecutors have lost an appeal over the acquittal of an Emirates flight attendant on a theft charge.

The Egyptian crew member was accused of snatching Dh9,000 and another 2,600 US dollars (Dh9,550) from the wallets of two Emirati brothers after they left their seats unattended during a Dubai-bound flight.

The siblings, 43 and 35, were on board flight EK373 coming from Thailand along with their father and step mother on June 21 of this year.

They said that their father was in Thailand for treatment and fell sick on board the flight while returning to Dubai. They left their seats in economy class and went to check on their father.

When they returned to their seats, they informed the attendants that their wallets had been opened and the cash stolen. They reported the incident to airport police upon landing.

The Egyptian flight attendant was later arrested after a police investigation.

He denied a theft charge at Dubai Criminal Court and was found not guilty due to insufficient evidence at a hearing in November.

Prosecutors failed to overturn the verdict at the court of appeal.