Police Board Ryanair Flight at Edinburgh Airport Following Alleged In-Flight Theft

Police Scotland officers boarded a Ryanair flight upon landing at Edinburgh Airport on Christmas Eve. The action followed reports of an alleged in-flight security incident involving stolen items from a trolley.

Incident Details and Response

The flight originated in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, before landing in the Scottish capital on Wednesday, December 24. Passengers reported an announcement was made on the plane's tannoy system. The announcement asked the alleged thief to return the stolen items for a quicker disembarkation process.

Footage shared online showed police officers walking up and down the aisle of the aircraft. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed the Edinburgh Airport theft investigation. They stated that officers received a report of items being stolen on a flight landing around 4:15 p.m. on December 24, 2025. The police carried out enquiries, but the items were reportedly not recovered.

It remains unknown if authorities conducted individual searches of passengers, as was threatened in the in-flight announcement.

Industry Context: In-Flight Theft and Security

This type of in-flight security incident highlights ongoing challenges for airlines globally. While the focus is often on violence, theft is a growing concern. In-flight theft is a rising trend, often linked to organized crime syndicates, particularly during busy travel periods like the holiday season. Reports from Hong Kong showed thefts onboard aircraft almost doubled in the first ten months of 2024 compared to 2023.

Aviation Passenger Security Protocols

Such events fall under the broader category of unruly passenger incidents. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported an increase in the rate of these incidents. In 2023, there was one incident for every 480 flights, up from one in 568 flights in 2022. Non-compliance with crew instructions remains the most frequent issue.

For police board commercial aircraft incidents in the United Kingdom, UK police officers have jurisdiction. They can deal with offenses on foreign-registered aircraft if the UK is the next point of landing. This legal framework allows for prompt action by Police Scotland at Edinburgh Airport.

International bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) urge states to ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014. This protocol aims to close jurisdictional gaps for prosecuting unruly passengers. This ensures that perpetrators of crimes, including theft, face consequences regardless of where the aircraft is registered. Airlines continue to develop aviation passenger security protocols to mitigate these risks. This includes better crew training and public awareness campaigns. For more commercial aviation news updates, visit our site.

Ryanair has not yet provided an official comment on the specific Las Palmas Gran Canaria flight incident.