A passenger onboard an American Airlines flight from Buenos Aires to Miami is in a spot of bother after allegedly stealing more than US$10,000 from two other passengers. Sharp-eyed flight attendants spotted the passenger behaving suspiciously during the flight and called it in. US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials met the gentleman as he stepped off the plane in Miami. Aside from a stash of cash, the officials found credit cards belonging to another passenger in the man's backpack. Awkward.

American Airlines passenger allegedly pinches cash and cards from two female passengers

According to an unsealed federal complaint, a Mr Diego Sebastia Radio was flying from Buenos Aires (EZE) to Miami (MIA) on AA900 on Monday, July 4. That's the Boeing 777-200 operated overnight flight. Mr Radio's legal woes began the following day, July 5, when the American Airlines flight landed at MIA. In the US District Court filing, a Homeland Security Agent says flight attendants saw Mr Radio behave oddly during the nine-and-a-half-hour flight, including repeatedly walking up the aisle, sitting in seats not assigned to him, and carrying what appeared to be a female passenger's wallet.

The crew subsequently had the plane met on arrival at Miami Airport by CBP officials who searched his backpack. Inside they found US$10,732 and 14,320 Argentinian Pesos. CBP officials also found slightly over US$4,000 in Mr Radio's wallet and two credit cards not belonging to him in his jacket pocket. In a subsequent interview conducted by Homeland Security Officers, Mr Radio allegedly admitted stealing from two passengers.

An alert flight attendant asks passenger to check her belongings

One female passenger told officials on arrival that a flight attendant asked her to check her belonging after observing Mr Radio poking around. That passenger checked her purse and found all her currency taken - just over US$10,000 and 13,800 Argentinian Pesos. For an undisclosed reason, some of the stolen US bills belonging to this passenger had a distinct stamp on them, making them easily to identify when later recovered from Mr Radio's belongings.

A second female passenger seated behind the first passenger overheard the discussion between that passenger and the flight attendant. She then checked her belongings and found US$710 and 520 Argentinian Pesos missing. Two of her credit cards were also missing. Those two cards were the cards found in Mr Radio's jacket pocket during the search.

Airlines warn not to leave valuables unattended on planes

Passengers leaving valuables unattended while stretching their legs inflight, or using the toilet, can be easy marks for opportunistic thieves. There are numerous examples from around the world of passengers leaving flights short-changed or minus a card to two after leaving a wallet in a seatback pocket while using the toilets. Airlines say passengers should take their valuables with them when leaving their seat, even if only for a minute.

Mr Radio was charged with theft of personal property valued at greater than $1,000 within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The filing notes the theft occurred while the plane was in the air and over international waters. Late last week the 29-year-old Argentinian national was reportedly in custody on a $250,000 bond. A search of US Federal Prison records on Monday morning confirms Mr Radio continues to cool his heels at Miami's Federal Detention Center. He is next due in court on July 20.