An entire cabin crew has been suspended after a passenger tracked their missing phone to a hotel where airline staff had been staying. Michael Tjendara claimed his device had been stolen while travelling from Indonesia’s capital Jakarta to Melbourne, Australia, on Garuda Indonesia flight GA716 on June 6.

Mr Tjendara said he had placed the phone in the backseat pocket before moving seats after takeoff and then returning to his old seat to find that the device was gone. He took to Instagram to detail the theft, sharing a series of screenshots from the Find My iPhone feature. They showed he had traced the device to a location near the Southbank Promenade. Mr Tjendara claimed the device had been placed close to the Mercure Hotel, where Garuda crew members were believed to be staying.

Mr Tjendara said the phone’s signal was last tracked between 3.50pm and 4.40pm before it appeared the device was moving towards the Evan Walker Bridge.

The final Find My iPhone screenshot appeared to show the device had been dropped into the Yarra River.

Mr Tjendara has called on local businesses to share information and CCTV footage that could help expose the unknown thief: “This isn’t just about a phone − it’s about the safety of all passengers in the future,” he wrote.

“Please help tag and share this story so the right people see it.”

In a statement issued on June 9, Garuda Indonesia’s Director of Commercial and Cargo, Ade R. Susardi, confirmed the crew members on duty had been suspended.

“We are in continuous communication with the concerned passenger and remain committed to supporting him throughout the follow-up process,” he told Indonesia Business Post.

Garuda Indonesia said a company representative had been sent to assist Mr Tjendara in Melbourne and to help him file a police report.

Mr Susardi apologised for the incident on behalf of the airline, adding: “We can confirm that upon receiving the report, all cabin crew had followed standard operating and safety procedures, including promptly coordinating with airport authorities to initiate a search”.

The Express contacted Garuda Indonesia for comment, who sent the following statement, which has been translated using Google: “As a follow-up to a report of lost luggage by a passenger on flight GA-716 on the Jakarta–Melbourne route on June 6, 2025, Garuda Indonesia announced that the internal investigation process has been officially declared complete.

“Garuda Indonesia’s internal investigation was carried out thoroughly through intensive coordination with various related parties, which was carried out on June 6-18, 2025. Based on the results of the investigation, there was no evidence to indicate the involvement of Garuda Indonesia’s flight crew in the alleged loss of the goods in question.

“As a form of commitment to ensure passenger safety and comfort, Garuda Indonesia has officially reported this incident to the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police. Furthermore, Garuda Indonesia will fully support the investigation process, and is ready to provide the information needed by the police in order to achieve a fair, objective, and transparent legal process for all parties.

“We also continue to communicate with the passenger concerned. Garuda Indonesia fully understands the public’s concern about this incident. Therefore, we ensure that every passenger input becomes the basis for strengthening and developing service quality. Passenger reports on this incident become evaluation material for Garuda Indonesia’s operational procedures and services, as part of our efforts to provide service excellence to passengers.

“Through these various efforts, Garuda Indonesia is committed to continuing to uphold the safety, security and comfort aspects of all passengers in accordance with applicable flight operational standards and regulations.”