10 Cebu Pacific flights have been affected after the Bicol International Airport (BIA) closed its runway due to a bomb joke on Monday, Oct. 2, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)
In a media advisory, CAAP said five affected flights were for arrival while the remaining flights were for departure.
JUST IN: Runway ng Bicol International Airport, pansamantalang sinara dahil sa bomb joke ng isang pasahero ng eroplano; 10 Cebu Pacific flights, apektado habang bumalik naman sa Maynila ang isang flight ng Phil. Airlines | @dzrhnews
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 2, 2023
📸: CAAP pic.twitter.com/3mmmaa4zsL
The agency said personnel onboard Cebu Pacific Airlines Flight 5J 326, which was supposed to depart at 10:45 AM at BIA, sought security assistance after a passenger made a bomb joke.
"Passengers were safely deplaned and directed to proceed to the Arrival Area for security inspection," it said, adding that other passengers were relocated to the Isolated Aircraft Parking Position.
CAAP: Passengers were safely deplaned & directed to proceed to the arrival area for security inspection. CAAP Security & Intelligence Service, CSIS, K9, and PNP-AVSEU conducted screening of passengers' luggage & hand carried items for paneling | @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/4RoHNAaTr0
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 2, 2023
All the checked-in luggage and hand-carried items of affected passengers were immediately re-screened by personnel from the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) personnel, Aviation Security Canine (K-9) Bomb Disposal units, and PNP-AVSEU.
CAAP: All other passengers were deplaned, & the aircraft was relocated to the Isolated Aircraft Parking Position, where all checked-in baggage & hand-carried items underwent re-screening as part of our enhanced security measures | @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/1svuDUknGA
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 2, 2023
As of 1:35 PM, the normal operations resumed at the BIA.
CAAP: Bicol International Airport Runway is set to open after runway sweeping is done by our arff. Meantime, Cebu pac aircraft is now back to parking bay no.2 for processing of pax boarding | @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/iI9xjG9vVK
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 2, 2023
Authorities are still investigating the incident, and the suspect's motive to convey a bomb joke has yet to be determined.
