Indian carrier SpiceJet is facing harsh criticism for the way it strip-searched flight attendants suspected of stealing cash from onboard.
SpiceJet collects cash for buy-on-board sales and suspected that FAs were pilfering this money. But it did more than question a number of FAs earlier this week: it strip-searched them. Literally.
Forced to strip naked, several FAs complained of unnecessary touching of private parts. One woman who was in the midst of her period was even forced to remove her sanitary pad. Talk about humiliation…
No money was found.
Yesterday, a bystander captured FAs at Chennai International Airport protesting the searches:
SpiceJet bristled off outrage, calling such searches “a global industry practice” and adding:
One of the objectives of this search is to ensure that there is no pilferage of company moneys/goods, smuggling or any illegal activity that an employee may be lured into. This also ensures security and safety of our passengers, our employees and our assets. This search essentially is the same as what any passenger goes through at any of the Indian airports while going through security check.
As for the invasive strip searches? That’s no problem, says SpiceJet, because “only women security staff search women employees” and such employees take place in a private room.
SpiceJet Defense
I’m not familiar with criminal law in India, but SpiceJet claimed “a specific security tip-off” drove its action. On the other hand, it stated, that it conducted “random pat down searches” which seems more like a fishing expedition than a narrow response to a reasonable suspicion.
CONCLUSION
Can you imagine FAs being subjected to this in the USA, especially in the #metoo era? U.S. carriers used to face this issue as well, but resolved it through cashless cabin policies. While credit card use is not as prevalent in India, SpiceJet could certainly eliminate all potential and actual theft by only accepting debit and credit cards for onboard payment.
But talk about a horrible situation. No one should face such a humiliating strip search without probable cause.
image: SpiceJet
It’s just nonsense for them to suggest that this is a global trend. An airline trying it in Europe would get short shrift from the courts. Even more so in the USA, Australia, UK.
The other day I was gazing out the gate window waiting for a delayed flight; noticed that some of the service crew from the turnaround procedures fot a very thorough pat down as they exited the plane onto the tarmac. I guess they were cleaning or food service staff. They were male; this was BKK. It was clear that it’s part of the routine as they spread out in anticipation of the event.
The Fourth Amendment unreasonable search and seizure does not apply to private actors. For example, a private person can commit a burglary and find evidence of a crime and the evidence obtained by breaking in without a warrant would not be suppressed.
I’m not talking about the USA or even on constitutional grounds. I’m speculating about laws in India and how unreasonable it is, on general justice principles, to perform strip searched without probable cause.
wtf did that have to do with anything… did you read the article?