Entire cabin crew suspended after missing passenger phone is tracked to hotel where airline staff had been staying

Monday, June 23, 2025 - An entire cabin crew was suspended after a passenger tracked his missing phone to a hotel that airline staff had been staying in. 

Michael Tjendara claimed his device had been stolen while travelling from Indonesia's capital Jakarta to Melbourne on Garuda Indonesia flight GA716 on June 6.

Mr Tjendara said he had placed it in the backseat pocket before moving seats after takeoff and then returning to his old seat to find the device was gone.

He detailed the theft on his Instagram account and shared a series of screenshots of the Find My iPhone feature.

The passenger also revealed 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.

Please help tag and share this story so the right people see it,' he wrote.

In a statement, 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 on the ground in Melbourne and to help him file a police report. 

Mr Susardi apologised for the incident on behalf of the airline. 

'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,' he said.