Scoot Cabin Crew Member Pleads Guilty to $40,000 In-Flight Cash Theft

A cabin crew member with Singapore-based Scoot has pleaded guilty to charges of criminal breach of trust. Luqman Hakim Shahfawi, 31, misappropriated nearly $40,000 in cash. This money came from the sale of food and beverages on board flights. The offenses took place over 366 occasions across a 21-month period.

Background on the Offense

At the time, Luqman was a complex leader for the low-cost carrier. This role required him to supervise other cabin crew. He was also responsible for collating all in-flight sales payments. Passengers could pay for items using either cash or card. Cash payments were placed into a designated “Brinks bag.”

Standard procedure required the complex leader to tally sales returns. They would record these sales in Scoot’s software. The cash-filled “Brinks bag” then had to be deposited into a safe. This deposit was required at the Scoot office within 48 hours of the flight.

Court documents detail the start of the scheme. In 2023, Luqman lost two of the cash bags after a flight. He did not report this loss to his supervisors. Worry over this initial loss led to his subsequent actions. He was not immediately confronted about the missing deposits. This lack of confrontation spurred him to continue keeping the cash. He began pocketing the “Brinks bags” after all subsequent flights.

Scope of Misappropriation

Luqman committed the criminal breach of trust over a long period. Between July 2023 and March 2024, he pocketed nearly $18,000. This involved 156 separate occasions. A similar offense followed between April 2024 and March 2025. This second period involved more than $22,000 across 210 occasions. Investigations revealed the money was used to repay debts. Specifically, he owed money to unlicensed moneylenders.

Luqman eventually confessed to his actions. A Scoot representative alerted the police on March 20, 2025. The crew member was arrested the following day. He has pleaded guilty to one charge involving the larger sum. A second charge for the remaining amount will be considered during sentencing. His mitigation and sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 3.

Industry Impact and Controls

This case highlights the critical importance of airline internal controls. Cabin crew are trusted with significant responsibilities. This includes managing revenue from in-flight sales cash. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) promotes best practices. These practices are for cash handling and revenue security. Failures in reporting or oversight can lead to major losses. This incident underscores the need for robust verification systems. Such systems ensure accountability for all collected funds. Aviation stakeholders follow such cases closely for insights into security protocols. You can find more commercial aviation news updates on industry integrity issues.