British police detain Air Algerie steward for allegedly possessing stolen cell phones

Passengers wait to check in at an Air Algeria counter for a flight to Paris at Algiers' Houari Boumediene Airport on June 1, 2021, after Algeria reopened its borders following a 15-months closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. - Algeria has slightly relaxed the conditions for entry to its soil of its nationals stranded abroad due to the Covid-19 epidemic, by reducing the costs of compulsory confinement, a statement from the Council of Ministers said. (Photo by AFP)

A steward of Algeria’s national carrier, Air Algérie, has been arrested in London at Heathrow airport for allegedly possessing stolen phones from France.

The arrest of the employee took place last Friday after a flight of the airline landed at Heathrow, local outlet El Khabar reported.

Sources within the airline told El Khabar that British authorities accused the steward of possessing stolen phones from France. It is unclear if the employee has been liberated. However, the incident is the latest scandal tarnishing the image of the sluggish airline.

Five suspects including employees of the Algerian national carrier were detained in Paris in April for trafficking medicines and psychotropic drugs.

Also in September last year, another steward of the airline was detained at Paris Orly airport for possessing a “banned substance”.

Air Algérie has been going through a difficult period and facing many challenges including aircraft maintenance, salary arrears, and payment of services suppliers.

 

About Khalid Al Mouahidi 4510 Articles
Khalid Al Mouahidi : A binational from the US and Morocco, Khalid El Mouahidi has worked for several american companies in the Maghreb Region and is currently based in Casablanca, where he is doing consulting jobs for major international companies . Khalid writes analytical pieces about economic ties between the Maghreb and the Mena Region, where he has an extensive network