This happened when I boarded an Aero airline flight 11AJ311U9APR2013 LOSPHC HK1 en route Portharcourt on Tuesday morning (7:00 am, 9th April, 2013). I decided to put my wallet in the handbag (briefcase type) I was carrying because it wouldn't close properly to enter by back pocket. On entering the airplane, I decided to put the handbag in the luggage cabin above the passenger seat that I took. Little did I know that the person pretending as if he was trying to put his load in the remaining space where my bag was was actually ransacking my bag. As unsuspecting as I was, I did not even check to see what he was doing because he was consistently pretending to be carrying his luggage into the cabin.
To cut the long story, I realized later when I was about to pay the airport taxi for his services after we disembarked from the plane that all my money was gone. Even some sealed envelopes the contains letters which were to be delivered to my clients were not spared by the thief as he had torn them completely probably to maximize his loot. This is very sad and disheartening that everyone I narrated the incident have been left with shock and disbelieve that one could be robbed right inside the airplane.
A note of advice, please be vigilant with your hand luggage or any luggage on you when boarding a flight, as these men of the underworld are taking their evil acts to a whole new level. What I'm sure of is that God will surely punish the robber and the day he would be cut, he would be beaten to stupor and burn to death. Amin.

... gawd!

Similar thing happened to me too about 3yrs ago on aero flight. Luckily for me, I got up to pick a novel from my bag at that same moment only to see the thief dash towards front row and my bag wide open. I didnt raise an alarm cos I knew people wouldnt belief me. I simply removed my bag from the rack above me and placed it in the opposite rack within my full view.

JEEEEEEEZUS KEEEEEEEERYYYYYSSSSST! even on planes??

That is why i prefer Dana anyday and anytime.