Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has issued a statement on the slapping incident involving a flight attendant and a female passenger on Davao-bound flight 5J 955.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the airline explained that it was investigating the incident, which happened on Saturday. An unidentified female passenger reportedly “expressed dissatisfaction, prior to departure, at having to stow her baggage appropriately as requested by the cabin crew member.” Despite her fury, the attendant gently assisted the passenger in placing her carry-on baggage in the overhead compartment.
Upon disembarkation from the aircraft, the frustrated female passenger allegedly slapped the face of another flight attendant, Madel Ty.
“CEB wishes to clarify that its cabin crew’s primary duty is to ensure the safety and security of its passengers on board the flight. Cabin crew members are ready to assist passengers in carrying and properly stowing hand-carried bags during boarding and deplaning, as necessary,” the statement said.
“CEB will always fully support its staff when they have been subject to abuse, physical or verbal, from disruptive passengers. Actions that CEB will consider will be to refuse carriage of the passenger on any future CEB flight, along with legal support to its staff member if charges are deemed appropriate,” it added.
In a Facebook post that was later taken down but shared by several Facebook sites, Ty said she was thinking of filing a lawsuit against the unruly passenger, who claimed she was a physician. She admitted that she repeatedly apologized to the ill-tempered passenger.
“I don’t want to elaborate what happened. Basta the bottom line, kaming mga cabin crew/flight steward, our main priorities are your safety and not to carry or lift your bags. Ang kinasasama lang ng loob ko sa napakasimpleng bag na di ma-stow ng maayos kailangan mo kaming sabihan na ‘your job is to assist passengers, kumbaga sa bus, mga konduktor kayo!'” she ranted in her deleted post, which was also posted by several sites such as I Heart Cabin Crew.
“Ininsulto mo na nga yung trabaho namin na akala mo binili mo pati buong pagkatao namin…’Di ako pinagaral ng magulang ko just for you to slap me. In the end, hindi naman kami yung nagmumukang walang pinag-aralan at walang manners eh,” she further lashed at the passenger.
Ty also posted photos showing the pinkish markings left on her cheek and neck as a result of the physical confrontation. Gianna Francesca Catolico