Passenger Forgets $340,000 Painting at German Airport, and a Trash Can Hunt Begins

Flying can be stressful for even the most seasoned business traveler. No matter how many items we check off our pre-flight “to do” list, sometimes the best laid plans go wrong.

That is exactly what happened to an unfortunate passenger who accidentally left a painting worth $ 340,000 at Düsseldorf Airport when he boarded his flight to Tel Aviv.

The businessman, who has not been identified, had discreetly wrapped the masterpiece in cardboard. He immediately contacted airport authorities to alert them to look out for the 16 x 24-inch work by French surrealist Yves Tanguyart, but the masterpiece appeared to have vanished into thin air.

Without clues, the businessman’s nephew decided to take matters into his own hands. After catching a flight from Belgium to Düsseldorf, the alleged detective met with the police in person. Fortunately, from that moment on, the puzzle clues began to take shape.

An inspector deduced that the cardboard-coated paint had reached a paper recycling bin. When a search was subsequently conducted into what could amount to the most lucrative dumpster dive in history, the precious package was found, unharmed, at the bottom of the dumpster. Tragedy avoided. Saved artwork.

“This was definitely one of our happiest stories this year,” said police spokesman Andre Hartwig. The ap. “It was a real detective job.”

PLUS: This New Yorker spent $ 65,000 buying art to support his fellow artists battling the pandemic

We are sure that Hercule Poirot would have been proud.

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