Airline worker caught stealing from man's bag

Spirit Airlines is apologizing after gate agents were caught on camera throwing away a passenger's personal belongings that he left behind in his carry-on suit case.

It happened at Armstrong International Airport.

In a statement to our partners at KCAL-TV News in Los Angeles, Spirit Airlines says the contract workers in the video, have been suspended by the company they work for, pending an investigation, and that they are expediting compensation for the belongings in the passenger's bag.

But Eyewitness News talked directly to that passenger, and he says that is not what is happening.

It's surveillance video from MSY airport that Keyonne Brooks finds it difficult to watch.

“I still have not been able to watch the entire video because it's just too gut wrenching for me. And knowing the medication that I had in there is very expensive, very hard to get, and I needed it. It's taken a lot out of me. I'm just appalled at their behavior,” Keyonne Brooks said.

Keyonne says he left his carry-on bag at the Spirit gate counter on February 19. He was headed back to Los Angeles from his uncle's funeral in New Orleans, that's when he got in a disagreement with the agent over doing a gate check of his large suitcase.

“She said that I'd have to reschedule my flight instead of doing a gate check, and I knew that was not true because of my travels with my nonprofit.”

He asked for a manager and paid an extra fee to take it on the plane, but he forgot his small carry on at the desk.

He was told to file a lost and found report when he got home, but when his carry-on never showed up there, he requested the video from Armstrong International. And that's when he says he saw the gate agent, and others he never interacted with, taking his things. It appears they hand off some belongings, while pouring his life-saving medication out, while taking cell phone pictures and laughing, and throwing his keys away.

“There were my house keeps, my car keys. When I got back to L.A., I was not able to get into my home right away. I was not even able to start my car. Everything was halted until I paid locksmiths,” Brooks said.

In the bag was valuable jewelry. One pendant was a very sentimental family heirloom. Keyonne says he got a members of the New Orleans City Council, Councilmen Green and Giarrusso, involved, who told him Spirit, and GAT Airline Ground Support, would make him whole again. But he says those companies are only agreeing to pay part of his loss now. So, he's hired an attorney.

When asked if he’ll ever want to come back to New Orleans, he answered, “Oh, I certainly want to come back to New Orleans, because my father lives there, and my siblings, but I certainly will never take Spirit Airlines again.”

Eyewitness News asked for a comment from MSY officials, but were told, this is a matter for Spirit Airlines.

We have sent a few messages to the Spirit communications department and still have gotten no response.

[friedrice]

Covering the cost of his flight IS NOT enough. Charge all 3 employees with theft and send a clear message to other employees.

[bobjenkins]

Oh no. Additional 10 grand plus return of stolen items plus charges against employee.

[guyfam]

My ticket refunded? No I need my jewelry back please.

[leilanigreenwood]

Customer service is bad in America damn near everywhere. What happened to professionalism? These workers were supposed to turn this man's bag into the lost and found. Not go through it and trash the contents

[olymes]

He needs to personally sue the airline and the worker.

[eboneweir]

Glad he got the video but you have to wonder how many times they've did this and got away with it

[MaritzaRivera-pfov]

😢😮 I HOPE SHE WAS FIRED & NEVER GET A JOB WITH SECURITY ANYWHERE AND SHOULD GO TO JAIL. Disgusting behavior! All of the employees should be fired there . They actually watched her steal and did nothing.

[EMCHobi]

So bold omg these people have no shame anymore.

[sbss]

And I can guarantee you, she, the thief employee sits in the front row at church. All she had to do was turn the bag in. When she put stuff in her pocket she thought she was out of the camera view. They should be FIRED, then prosecuted for thief. He should sue the airlines for more than a cost of a flight ✈️

[lauraleigh]

Appaling....so what happened to the thieves? Now of days, nothing

[khawmtiti]

Only in America where this kind of disgusting customer service is happening. I'm pretty sure America put up all kind of security camera to catch terrorists, but really they only caught their own mother terrorizing their own people

[WordsAreWealth]

Refunded the cost of his FLIGHT?! Are y’all serious??? These criminals need to be charged, and the airline needs to reimburse him for flight, medication, jewelry, and pain and suffering.

[sylviaboone]

He needs to sue all involved !! Theif ❗️❗️

[jh]

And the flight hadn't even left; passengers were still waiting to board so the staff could've gone on board and asked if anyone had forgotten a bag! They are thieves plain & simple! No excuses!

[stonystone]

As a former airline employee, I would never steal anything from anybody. Anything you take from the airport whether it's a candy bar or whatever is always considered a federal crime. It's not worth it and I'm sure charges were filed against her.

[donpettway]

Refunded the price of his
Flight?
What about the fact that man was without his medication for that trip?
What about the missing jewelry?

[silentnight]

This is shocking. Just wait for the policy statement about taking passenger safety seriously and all that baloney.
A family member of mine recently left her brand new laptop on the desk at Heathrow Airport in the UK and never got it back.
The airport was once dubbed ''Thiefrow'' because of theft from luggage and what not.

[rachelswain]

MY THING IS ONCE THEY SEEN THE BAG THEY COULD OF GAVE IT TO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANCE BEFORE THE FLIGHT LEFT OR LOST AND FOUND JUST SAD

[Michael-xlxs]

Hope she got fired and go's to jail and never gets a job with any airlines

[duckyloudiva]

Wow, doesn't she know they have cameras. She should have turned it in to lost and found. So now she just lost her job to steal from a passenger, also might go to jail, how embarrassing.