Mumbai: Several passengers travelling through Mumbai airport have reported losing gold jewellery, mobile phones, cash and even entire bags, with many cases remaining unsolved as investigators struggle to establish where the valuables disappeared.
In a recent case, a 36-year-old Chennai woman alleged that two gold earrings, a gold ring and a silver anklet went missing from her baggage after she travelled from Mumbai to Chennai. Sahar police examined CCTV footage to trace those who handled her baggage.
A 19-year-old Irish national and first-year MBBS student alleged that her bag, containing clothes, cosmetics and personal belongings, went missing at Mumbai airport. Her complaint, initially filed in Jalna, was transferred to Mumbai, where police sought CCTV footage to identify the person who allegedly took it.
In February 2026, a businessman travelling from Delhi to Mumbai reported Rs1.5 lakh missing from his baggage. In June 2025, another passenger arriving from Delhi alleged that gold ornaments worth around Rs5.5 lakh were removed from his laptop bag while the laptop was left untouched.
In February 2025, a retired mechanical engineer reported losing his iPhone at the airport. The phone was allegedly later used for unauthorised bank transactions, turning the theft into a wider financial crime.
The complainants have included businessmen, tourists, students, professionals and senior citizens. Investigations are complicated because passengers often discover the loss only after reaching their destination, by which time checked-in baggage has passed through check-in, security screening, sorting, loading, transportation and delivery. Delayed complaints can require police to trace workers, passengers and baggage movements across multiple surveillance points.
Urich Kamath, co-convener of the Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF), said, “There are a few airlines that do not have a proper mechanism to address such issues, including whether bags are delivered properly on the conveyor belt or whether they are damaged. Airlines often do not provide clarity on these issues. Passengers should be made aware of their rights. Investigations also become difficult because of the lack of support from airlines.”
Once a passenger leaves the airport, establishing where the theft occurred and who had access to the baggage becomes considerably harder.
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