UNFORTUNATE MIDFLIGHT INCIDENT IN AN ILOILO-BOUND AIRPLANE

JUST this Monday afternoon, Feb. 12, something disturbing happened inside an Iloilo-bound airplane from Metro Manila.

Midflight at around 1 p.m., the airplane’s emergency alarm went off, scaring the passengers out of their wits. What was happening, they asked one another. Was the plane going to crash? Were there terrorists onboard? Was there a medical emergency? Was the airplane having technical/mechanical trouble?

Then a grating static sound was heard from the airplane speakers, and the worried passengers heard the captain speaking in a stern voice.

“To someone inside the front lavatory, you are not allowed to smoke. You are jeopardizing the safety of this flight. You will be sent to the police once we landed at the Iloilo Airport,” said the captain.

It turned out that the airplane’s alarm system detected smoke – in the toilet. Smoking is prohibited inside airplanes. This is a standard safety protocol. A young man in his 20s was seen getting out of the lavatory. The cabin crew escorted him back to his seat and they talked.

At around 2 p.m. the airplane landed safely at the Iloilo Airport. Aviation security offices and policemen already on standby went up the plane, conferred with the smoker about security procedures, and escorted him out.

Ayon sa aming bubuwit, however, the guy was eventually released. He won’t be prosecuted but was issued a warning never to smoke again inside airplanes.

Ay, gali? Haslo!

What happened was a serious breach of flight security protocol that could have spiraled out of control. The violator should be held accountable.

Indi pwede nga “charge to experience” lang anay. Tarso!