Airline Passenger Accused of Stealing $23,000 from Fellow Travelers in the Middle of a Flight: Report

The man faces a potential fine and up to three years in prison, according to CNN

A man has been arrested and charged with theft after allegedly stealing nearly $23,000 in cash on a flight from Vietnam to Singapore, according to a CNN report, which cites authorities in Singapore.

CNN reported that Zhang Xiuqiang, a 52-year-old from China, was charged after another passenger on the budget Scoot airlines plane alerted a staff member.

Zhang had allegedly managed to steal cash from three separate passengers throughout the trip before he was caught, according to Singapore public broadcaster Channel NewsAsia, which cites authorities.

In total, Zhang is accused of stealing three million Vietnamese dong (roughly $123 USD) from one passenger and 510 million Vietnamese dong (roughly $20,950) from another passenger’s backpack, along with a separate 50-dollar note in Singapore cash (worth roughly $38 USD).

He is also alleged to have taken $1,000 and 930 Singapore dollars (roughly $700) from a third passenger’s bag.

“Our cabin crew was alerted by a passenger to a suspected theft in the cabin and activated the Airport Police Division,” a spokesperson for the budget Scoot airline told CNN. “The involved passengers were escorted off the aircraft by airport authorities for further investigation, and disembarkation proceeded as usual for the rest of our passengers.”

A spokesperson for the airline, the budget option for Singapore Airlines flights, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Channel NewsAsia reports that Zhang was charged with three counts of theft in a district court on Monday. The outlet also reports that he was read the Tokyo Convention Act, which applies to crimes committed while aboard an international flight which jeopardizes other passengers’ safety.

CNN reported that Zhang faces up to three years in prison if charged, as well as a potential fine in addition to a sentencing.

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