“Mischievous Singapore Handler Sends Bags Astray at World’s Best Airport” By Reuters

A baggage handler at Singapore’s Changi Airport has been accused of altering tags on hundreds of pieces of luggage, causing them to be sent to incorrect destinations, according to local reports.

Tay Boon Keh, a 63-year-old employed by a subcontractor of the Changi Airport Group, faced 286 counts of mischief in court recently. While he has not provided a reason for his actions, he plans to plead guilty. The next court appearance is scheduled for October 17, where he could face up to a year in prison and fines for each charge if found guilty.

Court documents indicate that luggage meant for various locations, including Perth, Manila, Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco, was impacted. It is believed that Tay changed baggage tags almost daily from November through February.

An airport spokesman reassured that there was no breach of security involved in the incident.

In 2016, nearly 59 million passengers traveled through Changi Airport, making it the sixth busiest airport globally for international traffic. The airport offers flights to 380 cities with over 100 airlines and was recognized as the world’s best airport in 2017 by a prominent air travel consultancy.

Changi Airport has a capacity to handle approximately 70,000 bags daily.