Explain shoplifting, AI tells airhostess

Nearly four months after an Air India (AI) hostess was detained at Frankfurt for shoplifting, the airline has asked her to explain the incident.

On August 27, 2008, DNA had reported that the airhostess from Mumbai had stolen a perfume from a duty free shop at Frankfurt airport and the airline manager had to pay the fine. At that time the airline denied the allegations claiming that the hostess was fined not for shoplifting but for having accidentally broken the bottle of a perfume.

However, in a letter written by AI’s in-flight services department, a copy of which is with DNA, the assistant general manager agreed that the incident did actually take place. The letter said: “Manager Frankfurt has brought to our notice that you were involved in a shoplifting case in November 2007 at Frankfurt. It has also been brought to our notice that you were allowed to leave Frankfurt on that occasion on the basis of an undertaking that you would pay up the money prescribed by the German authorities on your next visit to Frankfurt””

The letter also said that the hostess operated on several flights to Frankfurt after the said incident but failed to pay the amount.  On August 12, 2008, she again went to Frankfurt and this time was caught by the immigration authorities.  “You flatly refused to have any knowledge of any such incident and also claimed that you had not given any undertaking to the police. However, later you agreed to having signed some document in November 2007. Thereafter you were given the option of either paying the fine of 810euros or serving a sentence behind bars for 25 days.

In the meantime another flight AI137 had also landed and the crew had gathered at the immigration.  Eventually officials of Air India-Frankfurt had to pay the amount out of their petty cash float at the airport after taking an undertaking from you that you would repay the amount prior to your departure to Chicago on August 12, 2008,” the letter
further said.