Palembang, January 13 - In a striking incident that underscores the vulnerabilities in aviation recruitment processes, a 23-year-old woman from Palembang, Indonesia, boarded a Batik Air domestic flight on January 6, 2026, while dressed in a counterfeit cabin crew uniform. The individual, identified as Khairun Nisya, wore the airline's distinctive attire, including a white kebaya blouse, a patterned batik skirt, and a fake ID badge, while traveling on a valid passenger ticket from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. Flight attendants initially mistook her for an additional colleague before noticing inconsistencies in her uniform and questioning her about standard duties, which she could not answer convincingly. This led to her detention upon landing, highlighting potential aviation security risks associated with unauthorized use of airline insignia.
@aeronewsjournal #AviationNews 23-year-old woman boards #BatikAir #flight in fake #cabincrew uniform after falling for Rp30M job scam. Shocking aviation impersonation story! #aeronewsjournal ♬ original sound - Aero News Journal
The motivation behind the impersonation stemmed from a prior unsuccessful application to become a Batik Air flight attendant. Having failed the recruitment process, the woman sought to maintain an appearance of success in the eyes of her family. Reports indicate she had previously fallen victim to a job scam, paying approximately Rp30 million (around $1,900 USD) to an intermediary who promised guaranteed employment with the airline, only for the contact to disappear afterward. Desperate to avoid embarrassment over the financial loss and rejection, she purchased a replica uniform online and fabricated credentials to stage the illusion of employment, ultimately choosing to board the flight in this guise.
This case shines a light on the growing prevalence of aviation job scams targeting aspiring cabin crew members in Indonesia and beyond. Fraudsters often exploit the high demand for positions in the airline industry by demanding upfront payments for fictitious recruitment opportunities, bypassing official channels. Legitimate airlines, including Batik Air, conduct hiring through transparent, no-fee processes via their verified websites and authorized partners. Authorities have emphasized that any request for money in exchange for job placement is a clear indicator of fraud, urging candidates to verify opportunities directly with the airline to prevent financial exploitation.
The incident serves as a cautionary reminder of the broader implications for aviation safety and personal integrity. While the woman did not attempt to perform crew duties or access restricted areas, the use of counterfeit credentials raised serious concerns about identity verification protocols at airports. Following questioning, she issued a public apology to Batik Air and its parent company. Such events reinforce the need for heightened awareness among job seekers and stricter measures to combat impersonation in the travel sector.