PH-bound plane from UAE diverted to India due to passenger’s ‘disruptive behavior’

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

The passenger, whose name and other particulars were withheld by Cebu Pacific Air, and 400 other passengers remain at the international airport in New Delhi after the apparently mentally unstable person said “bomb.”

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Cebu Pacific flight 5J 7954 from Dubai to Manila was supposed to have arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Authority (NAIA) terminal 3 before noon Thursday.

But four hours into its flight back to Manila, at around 7 am, the flight had to be diverted to India because of an emotionally unstable passenger.

The MIAA said that the aircraft was about to return to its original flight plan and back to Manila at around 7:30 am when the unruly 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.

As of 5:00 pm, the plane has not been allowed to take off and leave for NAIA.