Plane passenger rushed to mental hospital after making a scene at NAIA

A PASSENGER of a Philippine Airlines (PAL) domestic flight was forcibly carried out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday night by the airline firm’s security personnel after she allegedly made a scene and showed signs of mental instability.

The passenger, identified as 41-year-old Rodelyn Courtney, was hauled out of the NAIA Terminal 2 by three PAL security men from the departure area.

When the woman was forced out of the airport, two of the men from the Goldleaf Security Agency were seen carrying her by the arms and shoulders while a third security man held her legs. Three other airline security personnel and two airport police officers trailed after them with the passenger’s handbag while a female PAL employee took a video of the entire journey to the exit.

A little past 7 p.m. on Sunday, Courtney drifted from the stairs of the departure area on the third floor down to the carousel area on the ground floor, which was almost empty of people at the time.

Several minutes later, she was hauled out by the airline security personnel down the stairs. She initially tried to break free of the men’s hold on her but soon calmed down as they reached the foot of the stairs and the last few steps to the terminal’s side exit.

According to a report from the airport police department, the woman was supposed to be on a 3:30 p.m. Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight to Bacolod but instead of boarding her flight, the woman reportedly loitered at the NAIA terminal 2 pre-departure area.

While PAL employees tried to speak with her, she kept silent and just transferred seats.

Courtney was allowed to stay at the area and a doctor was called in to evaluate her state of mind. Soon after, she allegedly started causing a scene. The airline security personnel were about to escort her out of the area when she started shouting at them to leave her alone and not to touch her.

Her outburst apparently prompted the security men to carry her out of the terminal to avoid alarming other passengers.

An investigator of the airport police said that Courtney was brought by a PAL ambulance to the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City. SFM/AC