Hawaiian Air trio arrested in thefts

Maui police and federal law enforcement agents arrested three Hawaiian Airlines employees last week on suspicion of theft of baggage items, including firearms, the Maui Police Department announced Monday.

The three, who were arrested Thursday, are the subject of a continuing investigation by Maui police detectives; the FBI; the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Hawaiian Airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines Corporate Security investigators reported to police in August the suspected employee theft involving checked passenger baggage.

All three are ramp agents based on Maui and have been placed on leave pending the ongoing investigation, Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Alex Da Silva said.

Two of the thefts involved firearms and were documented by the police and the airlines.

The first theft occurred June 24 when a lawfully declared firearm was stolen from checked baggage on a Los Angeles-to-Hilo flight, with a layover in Kahului.

On July 28 a passenger reported a lawfully declared firearm stolen from checked baggage from a Kahului-to-San Jose, Calif., flight.

Authorities arrested a 28-year-old Wailuku man on suspicion of first-degree theft and firearm offenses, and released him pending investigation; a 52-year-old Kihei man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree theft and released pending further investigation; and a 29-year-old Wailuku man, suspected of third-degree theft for a separate theft investigation, was also released pending investigation.

Da Silva referred all further questions to police.

A Maui Police Department spokesman could not be reached for comment.