Unruly passenger forces Cebu Pac flight diversion

A Manila-bound plane from Dubai was diverted on Thursday morning to India because of the “disruptive behavior” of a Filipino passenger.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Cebu Pacific flight 5J 7954 from Dubai was scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Authority Terminal 3 before Thursday noon.

Around 7 a.m., or four hours into its flight back to Manila, the plane had to be diverted to India because of an apparently emotionally unstable passenger.

The MIAA said the aircraft was about to return to its original flight plan around 7:30 a.m. when the said passenger suddenly blurted out, “bomb.”

This prompted New Delhi airport authorities to hold the aircraft which had 406 passengers, including six babies and 13 flight crew members.

The passenger, whose name was withheld by Cebu Pacific Air, and other people on board the plane remained at the international airport in New Delhi as of 5 p.m. yesterday.