DOTr probes Cebu Pacific over ‘suffocating’ flight

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday said that it has ordered an investigation into a Cebu Pacific Flight bound for Cebu which allegedly left people in panic and some suffocating.

“Please be informed that the Department of Transportation, through its Undersecretary for Aviation Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, has already instructed the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to look into this and act accordingly,” the transport agency said in a statement.

Chief Legal Officer of CAB Wyrlou Samodio subsequently directed Cebu Pacific to probe the matter and submit an incident report within an hour from notice.

The probe came after a netizen posted a vide posted a video on Facebook showing an incident last Friday when passengers of Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 575 bound for Cebu were in panic, while forcing airline personnel to let them deplane from the aircraft.

Netizen and passenger Gin Durano claimed that during the incident they have been inside the plane she described as “freaking damn hot” for more than an hour.  

“Babies are crying, old people are complaining and there's a woman [who] got suffocated and now she has oxygen on because she can't breathe,” Durano wrote in her post.

“They didn't even do anything to deplane us until the woman [passed] out,” she added.

Durano’s post was accompanied with videos of passengers in panic asking the flight crew to open the window and deplane them. Other videos also show passengers fanning themselves while sweating and showing a baby inside the plane.

The DOTr said that there is only a prescribed two-hour period to deplane its passengers due to long tarmac delays.

It added that if Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 575 went beyond the prescribed period to deplane its passengers. “Cebu Pacific shall be held liable for the penalty prescribed under the regulation,” the agency said.

“Further, if found to have violated the regulation, the pilot shall likewise be held liable as he has the obligation to order the deplaning. CAB shall indorse the case of the pilot to CAAP for appropriate action, since the latter exercises jurisdiction over airmen,” it added.

“Rest assured that DOTr-CAB will objectively monitor this incident and shall update the public of any development,” it added.

'All passengers were transferred to replacement aircraft'

For its part, Cebu Pacific apologized for the incident and explained that the Flight 5J575 bound to Cebu from Manila encountered a delay due to debris that had to be cleared from the runway.

“During that time, one passenger fainted, prompting emergency medical assistance,” Cebu Pacific said.

“Following reports from our crew that the cabin temperature was warm, Cebu Pacific decided to change the aircraft for the comfort of our passengers,” it added.

Cebu Pacific assure the public that its cabin crew and ground personnel assisted all passengers and handled the transfer to the replacement aircraft. It added that the flight departed Manila at about 7:32 p.m, and landed safely in Cebu at 8:52 p.m.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience these incidents may have caused and appeal for understanding,” the carrier said.