Joe Yates
Over $400,000 worth of gold jewelry went missing while being transported on a flight from London to Chicago, with the airline involved being taken to court.
Al-Arefi Jewelry contracted British Airways (BA) to transport its treasures from Bahrain to Chicago back in July 2023, but the recipient waiting to pick it up in the US was shocked to find the cargo missing.
There was layover in London as part of the journey, before jetting off on the final stretch to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
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But the cargo is suspected to have disappeared while baggage handlers worked through the plane.
Al-Arefi Jewelry sought damages for the missing gold jewellery, which weighed around 20 pounds, and in February last year, a court in Bahrain ruled that BA must pay just shy of $406,000 to the jeweller.
Now, BA has taken baggage handlers Ground Services International (GSI) - which is owned by dnata (Dubai National Air Travel Agency) - to court seeking $1.2 million in compensation and damages.
GSI operate at multiple US airports - including Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
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Court documents state that two of GSI's staff members have been prosecuted on suspicion of theft.
BA claim that it contacted GSI requesting compensation of the hefty $406,000 bill but it refused.
The airline has now claimed that GSI did not safeguard cargo which had been onboard its aircraft which BA states is a breach of the Standard Ground Handling Agreement.
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The figure the UK-based airline is seeking covers the cost of the fee it was ordered to pay Al-Arefi Jewelry, plus over $700,000 in losses and $100,000 in legal fees.
According to Business Insider, which has obtained the court documents, a settlement conference has been arranged for February 11.
When contacted by UNILAD about the lawsuit, a spokesperson for dnata said: “dnata is committed to ethical business practices and operates in compliance with all laws, regulations and industry standards. Our strict governance guidelines make the rules clear to every employee. We cannot comment further on ongoing legal proceedings.”
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Last year, an air hostess in India was arrested and sentenced after she was found with almost a kilogram of gold concealed in her rectum.
Surabhi Khatun worked as a cabin crew member for Air India Express when she was arrested in May last year by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence as her flight from Muscat landed in Kannur International Airport.
960 grams of gold in compound form was later discovered in Kolkata native's bottom.
Khatun was sentenced to 14 days in a women's prison in Kannur.