Firearm Theft Investigation: 3 Hawaiian Airlines Employees Arrested

Background Image file photo by Wendy Osher/ Maui Now.

Detectives and Officers from the Maui Police Department along with federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives arrested three Hawaiian Airlines employees in connection with several theft investigations.  The arrests were made on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.

In August of 2016, Hawaiian Airlines Corporate Security investigators reported to the Maui Police Department suspected employee theft involving their ramp agents and checked baggage belonging to passengers.

Specific were two incidents involving Hawaiian Airlines flights.

• The first occurred on June 24, 2016 when a lawfully declared firearm was reported stolen from checked baggage while en route from Los Angeles, California to Hilo with a layover in Kahului.
• The second occurred on July 28, 2016 when another lawfully declared firearm was reported stolen from checked baggage while traveling from Kahului to San Jose, California.

Both incidents were documented with Hawaiian Airlines as well as the Maui Police Department.

As a result, Detectives from the Maui Police Department Criminal Investigation Division working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATF and Hawaiian Airlines effected the arrest of the three employees including:

• A 28 year old male resident of Wailuku was arrested for the offenses of Theft in the First Degree, Place to Keep Firearm (Loaded) and Place to Keep Ammunition;
• A 52 year old male resident of Kīhei was arrested for the offense of Theft in the First Degree; and
• A 29 year old resident of Wailuku was arrested for Theft in the Third Degree regarding a separate theft investigation.

All three were employed for Hawaiian Airlines for nearly ten years and all were released pending further investigation.

The investigation is on-going.