Japanese pilot arrested for selling stolen aircraft manuals online

Airline Industry Information, August 30, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A pilot with Japanese based All Nippon Airways (ANA) was arrested on Tuesday (30 August) after he was allegedly discovered selling aircraft operation manuals and airline uniforms on the Internet.

According to a police spokesman the man is suspected of stealing up to six flight operation manuals, one of which was for Boeing 747-400 aircraft, from a study room based at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The thefts occurred in January this year.

The manuals were allegedly sold by the pilot, along with uniforms for a pilot and co-pilot, to an aircraft goods shop for JPY500,000 and were also offered for sale online, reported Reuters.

After discovering the theft of the manuals, the airline bought them back on the Internet but was unable to trace the uniforms.

In a statement ANA said that the situation was "extremely regrettable" and that the pilot would be dealt with severely, adding that security at its study room had been tightened.

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