NAIA ground crew hurt as lightning hits plane

MANILA, Philippines - A member of an airline’s ground crew was hurt when lightning struck a plane he and his co-workers were moving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) tarmac during a downpour Thursday night.

Radioman Celdon Abalang was wearing a headset, giving instructions to his co-workers at NAIA-3’s Bay 109 when lightning struck the tail of a Cebu Pacific plane at around 7:30 p.m. and passed through the headset, which was connected to the plane, according to initial reports.

Abalang’s employer, Aviation Partnership Philippines Corp., is a contractor of Cebu Pacific.

Abalang is currently confined at the Makati Medical Center, where his condition is under observation. Cebu Pacific said it is coordinating with his employer to arrange any assistance that airline can provide.

Manila International Airport Authority head doctor Arnulfo Ty told The STAR that Abalang would have died if he had been hit directly, but since the lightning passed through his headset, there could be “some damage.”

NAIA-3 manager Octavio Lina said that in airports in other countries, ground crews are asked to leave the tarmac during bad weather.