THE management of Cebu Pacific Airlines is investigating an incident over the weekend where a female passenger, purportedly the wife of a military general, slapped a flight attendant of the airline for insisting that the passenger properly stow her baggage before takeoff.
The incident went viral on social media after flight attendant Madel Ty posted photos showing her left cheek, ear and neck still red from what appeared to be a slapping.
Ty said she was the lead cabin crew on Cebu Pacific flight 5J955 from Manila to Davao last July 30 when the female passenger got into an altercation with another cabin crew member.
The airline said in a statement the passenger, whom it did not identify, “had expressed dissatisfaction, prior to departure, at having to stow their baggage appropriately as requested by the cabin crew member.”
“The cabin crew member then assisted the passenger in stowing the baggage in the overhead bin. Stowing cabin baggage in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of the passenger is a safety requirement mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.”
But when the flight landed in Davao, the woman passenger assaulted Ty saying it was the cabin crew’s job to assist passengers, “kumbaga sa bus, mga konduktor kayo! god da** it,” the woman was quoted as saying.
But the airline said the cabin crew’s primary duty is to ensure the safety and security of its passengers onboard the flight. It added cabin crew members are ready to assist passengers in carrying and properly stowing hand carried bags during boarding and deplaning.
“Separately, CEB is providing full support to the assaulted cabin crew member, who is now considering filing charges against the passenger,” the CEB 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.”