MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) insists there was irregularity in the departure of a private jet from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Feb. 13 without undergoing pre-flight inspection by the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup).
In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the flight’s manifest listed only six passengers, but it appeared that more people boarded the aircraft.
“Avsegroup reported seeing more than six people board the private jet,” she said in the interview.
Fajardo said the discrepancy prompted the police officers not to give clearance to the flight.
“We have reservation because of the irregularities the PNP has seen in that issue,” she said.
The aircraft, owned and operated by Cloud Nine No. 1 Leasing Co. Ltd., departed for Dubai.
Fajardo said there was a similar incident in December 2022 wherein a private aircraft left without a pre-flight inspection clearance from the Avsegroup.
Authorities believe the incident could have been an aborted human trafficking incident.