375 travelers arrive in Phl without luggage

MANILA, Philippines - Passengers on two flights of Cathay Pacific arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 from Hong Kong yesterday morning without their luggage.

The 375 travelers, who arrived at around 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., were able to claim their bags when they arrived on the 4 p.m. flight.

Cathay Pacific station manager Ed Monreal told The star that the bags were not loaded on the two morning flights because Hong Kong’s civil aviation department (CAD) stopped all ground operations due to a heavy thunderstorm.

“The CAD allowed the planes to fly without a single (piece of luggage),” he said. “The ground staffers were not supposed to work or be exposed during the thunderstorm because they could be hit.”

Monreal said the flights to other destinations were similarly affected.