An angry Chinese tourist reportedly punched a policeman on Friday, March 28, 2014 after Cebu Pacific (CebuPac) flight 5J074 bound from Kalibo, Aklan to Shanghai, China was forced to return to Kalibo International Airport due to the weather condition while on-board passengers confronted the Cebu Pacific pilots.
According to the reports of ABS-CBNnews and ANC, the unidentified policeman was trying to mitigate both parties between the protesting passengers against the pilot and the co-pilot of CebuPac flight 5J074.
Kalibo International Airport Officer-in-Charge Cynthia Aspera identified the pilot as Captain Johnny Tinto with his co-pilot Richard Avila. The passengers allegedly surrounded the two pilots and blocked them from entering the terminal building.
Cynthia Aspera told Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) that the passengers demanded for free hotel accommodation after their supposed trip have been cancelled.
Aspera did not confirm the report regarding the alleged punching incident but she stated that “a certain Mr. Xue Weilang, Chinese national…was brought to the [PNP] for questioning [due to] being arrogant and disrespectful to the pilots.”
“CEB charter flight 5J074 Kalibo-Shanghai was cancelled last Friday, March 28, 2014 due to the weather condition (low visibility) in Shanghai. Passengers of this flight will be re-accommodated in this evening’s chartered CEB flight 5J074 Kalibo-Shanghai. It will depart at 1855H and arrive in Shanghai at 2245H,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement.
Meanwhile, another confrontation previously occurred in one of the terminals of Cebu Pacific after CebuPac supervisor reportedly offloaded a 12-year-old boy seeking medical treatment.
