**Covert Cameras Unmask Airport Cleaning Crew’s Thefts from Aircraft at Manchester**
A group of ten aircraft cleaners have been sentenced after being caught on hidden cameras stealing goods such as alcohol, cigarettes, and snacks from Aer Lingus aircraft stationed at Manchester Airport. The operation, described by the presiding judge as “casual theft” that became “systematic”, was uncovered after the airline detected unusual levels of stock loss from two of its planes over several months.
Aer Lingus, the Irish airline whose planes fly the Manchester to New York route, raised concerns after noticing that valuable stock, ranging from miniature bottles of spirits and cigarettes to luxury perfumes, was routinely vanishing. The airline installed covert surveillance cameras on board its Manchester-based aircraft during May and June 2023, leading to the exposure of a widespread theft ring among cleaning staff. The footage, captured over several days in July and August 2023, offered an unfiltered view of the crimes, as cleaners broke seals, cut through security tags and rifled through storage containers.
Among those caught and subsequently prosecuted were Connor Brooks, Jonathan Etchells, Dylan Nelson, Richard Armer, Usman Ghani, Katie Moran, Ciaran Lynch, Mark Hicks, Roman Mahmood, and Shawn Bailey. All of them pleaded guilty to charges of theft at Manchester Crown Court. The cleaners were employed by a firm contracted by the airline to perform cleaning duties on the affected aircraft, highlighting the vulnerability of subcontracted services to internal theft.
Court proceedings heard that the group used a variety of methods to facilitate their actions. At one point, cleaners were seen weighing containers to gauge which were full, and jokes were made on camera as they pilfered goods, with one worker even calling out “you’re under arrest” to colleagues in jest. The recordings documented spirited conversations about their spoils, with individuals boasting about stashes of perfumes back at home and candidly discussing their attempts not to be “too greedy”.
Prosecution revealed that on a single occasion, two cleaners used a ‘red axe’ to forcibly break into a container merely to take tubes of Pringles crisps, an effort that a court official described as “a lot of work for a few crisps”. In total, the cameras captured the theft of items worth €1,290.10 over the days they were in operation. However, airline representatives advised that the real losses are thought to be much greater, with estimates running as high as €200,000, suggesting the thefts had persisted for a considerably longer duration than was directly observed.
Sentencing at Manchester Crown Court reflected the seriousness of breaching the trust placed in the defendants. All ten members of the group received 12-month community orders, with the requirement to carry out unpaid work. Those implicated in the sale of stolen goods were handed more severe penalties, with three individuals ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and the remaining seven to complete 80 hours each.
In his remarks, Judge Nicholas Dean KC, Honorary Recorder of Manchester, noted that the defendants initially faced the more severe charge of conspiracy, typically linked to organised crime. However, upon review, the court concluded these thefts were more reflective of opportunistic behaviour that eventually became habitual, influenced by a workplace culture where stealing became normalised. The judge pointedly remarked, “when individuals saw that others were involved in theft, they became involved too”, underlining the risks when misconduct goes unchecked in a team environment.
The case has underscored the challenges airlines face in maintaining security, even within their own subcontracted operations. It also calls attention to the importance of regular audits and monitoring of onboard stock – not only to protect the airline’s assets but also to uphold trust within its contracted workforce.
The convicted individuals, all of whom reside in the Greater Manchester area, now face the consequences of their actions. The court’s decision serves as a stark reminder of the level of responsibility borne by those in positions of trust, and the serious repercussions that can follow when that trust is flagrantly disregarded.
As this story has highlighted, the aviation sector continues to grapple with internal security threats, and the outcome of this case may well prompt other carriers to revisit their own oversight measures, to prevent similar breaches in future.