PAL seeks P28 million in damages from unruly American

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) is demanding $620,000 or P28.272 million in damages from an 80-year-old American, who went berserk and hit a window panel with his cane on a Manila-Cebu flight last Friday.

Superintendent Joey Salido, chief of the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security based at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, said PAL is seeking the damages in a civil suit it filed against Rex Maybert Hampton of Portland, Oregon.

Salido told The STAR that Hampton also faces charges of malicious mischief resulting in damage to property.

He said Hampton was arrested shortly after the PAL plane touched down at the Mactan Airport last Friday.

Since it was a weekend, Salido said they will file the criminal charges against the American today.

Salido said Hampton is confined at the Chong Xua Hospital in Cebu and the police could not hold him longer than 18 hours, the reglamentary period for his offense.

Hampton will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9497 on civil air regulations and for endangering his co-passengers.

Salido said Hampton became hysterical as he alleged that somebody was out to kill him, and started hitting the window panel with his cane some 30 minutes after the plane took off from the Centennial Airport in Pasay City.

Salido said the window hit by Hampton had spider web-like cracks, which, however, did not affect the Manila-Cebu flight since it had a three-layered panel.