Police captured a suspect who allegedly stole 166,500 euros (US$239,460) from another passenger during a flight, the biggest such theft in China's air history.

The suspect, surnamed Gong, was escorted by police to New Baiyun International Airport at 10pm yesterday in Guangzhou. On December 10, a passenger surnamed Ma reported to police that some of his cash was stolen from his travel bag on a flight from Guangzhou to Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, Guangzhou Daily reported today.

Ma claimed that someone stole 166,500 euros from his carry-on bag. The bag contained 500,000 euros, the report said.

Police found a man had used a fake identity to board the aircraft and began a search for Gong, 40, from Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province.

Gong was eventually caught in Suzhou, Jiangsu, the report said, without saying the exact date.

Gong admitted to police that he took the money, but that he only stole some of the cash so that the victim wouldn't get suspicious, the report said.

After exchanging some of the money, Gong spent 300,000 yuan (US$40,650) gambling and gave the rest to his girlfriend surnamed Liu, the report said.

Police captured Liu in Jiangyin. They also seized 89,500 euros and 170,000 yuan of the stolen money, the report said.

Police warned passengers not to take large sums of money on flights.