BACOLOD CITY – A bomb threat forced passengers to disembark from a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Manila from this city at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental on Sunday night, July 2.
Police Major Deejay Domingo, chief of the Bacolod-Silay Airport Police Station, said that one passenger told security that he received a photo informing him that “the plane is going to go boom” via airdrop from an unknown cellphone user.
The passengers were already boarding the plane when they were advised to deplane the aircraft for security reasons, he added.
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PASSENGERS deplane a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Manila from Bacolod City at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental, following an alleged bomb threat on Sunday, July 2. (Contributed photo) Domingo said the passengers’ flight was already delayed because of a problem in Manila and was even more delayed because of the threat. He said that all Iphone users received the same photo but only one reported it to the security, as it was sent to him many times. Domingo believed that the sender was just at the airport or also a passenger, and probably got bored of waiting, thus he thought of pranking the passengers. He said that the passengers undergo checking of their hand carry bags again while the K9 dogs also checked their baggages at the aircraft. After about three hours, the aircraft was cleared by authorities and the passengers were allowed to board the plane again past 2 a.m., he added. Domingo said the passengers safely landed in Manila, despite numerous complaints about the delayed flight and the procedures they went through again for security. He said they have coordinated with the cybercrime division to identify or possibly locate the sender. Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping that authorities can immediately locate the prankster. Cebu Pacific has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.
PASSENGERS deplane a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Manila from Bacolod City at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental, following an alleged bomb threat on Sunday, July 2. (Contributed photo) Domingo said the passengers’ flight was already delayed because of a problem in Manila and was even more delayed because of the threat. He said that all Iphone users received the same photo but only one reported it to the security, as it was sent to him many times. Domingo believed that the sender was just at the airport or also a passenger, and probably got bored of waiting, thus he thought of pranking the passengers. He said that the passengers undergo checking of their hand carry bags again while the K9 dogs also checked their baggages at the aircraft. After about three hours, the aircraft was cleared by authorities and the passengers were allowed to board the plane again past 2 a.m., he added. Domingo said the passengers safely landed in Manila, despite numerous complaints about the delayed flight and the procedures they went through again for security. He said they have coordinated with the cybercrime division to identify or possibly locate the sender. Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping that authorities can immediately locate the prankster. Cebu Pacific has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.