Bomb joke not funny for plane passengers

Seven passengers were taken into custody by airport authorities  on Thursday after one of them reportedly cracked a bomb joke as the Palawan-bound plane they were on was about to take off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Officers from the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) off-loaded the seven identified as Mohamad Sokor Lacungan, Zahra Lacungan, Fatima Lacungan, Faruk Capangpangan, Salma Dimakuta, Abdul Majid Patano and Morsidah Dalidig, all Filipinos who were reportedly on their way to Puerto Princesa City to attend a religious meet.

Air Philippines flight 2P 943 was taxiing at Naia Terminal 3 when the pilot, Captain Cyril Flores, radioed ramp control requesting permission to return to the terminal and police assistance after a passenger reportedly said there was an explosive device on board, according to reports reaching the airport’s Media Affairs Division (MAD).

At around 4 p.m., the rest of the passengers and crew were allowed to board the aircraft and proceed with the flight to Puerto Princesa. Tina G. Santos