Solon recounts ‘near death’ flight, calls for air traffic reforms

House Independent Bloc Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez called on the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) yesterday to address the air traffic congestion after his “neardeath experience” on Monday night when the private plane he boarded from Bacolod City to Manila had been ordered to circle around the dangerous Sierra Madre Mountains during the onslaught of typhoon Lando because of congestion.

Romualdez said that to ensure public safety, the DOTC should nix its policy asking aircrafts to fly “overtime” or beyond flight schedules and described his Monday experience as the “scariest flight.”

“I hope the DOTC whoever it is (secretary) will do something for the safety of the riding public. We don’t want an accident to occur,” Romualdez, the president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said.

He said they thought that “was the end of their life” after their nine-seater private plane was ordered by the air traffic controller to hover around the mountains for 20 minutes, which was strongly rejected by the pilot and co-pilot.

“I wondered why the turbulence took all of 20 minutes. It was so severe. I hit my head twice on the aircraft ceiling. All our belongings were scattered inside the plane,” he said.

He said they left the Bacolod -Silay International Airport at 5:45 Monday afternoon, which was originally scheduled at 4 p.m. and landed 8:30 p.m. in Manila.

“Salamat sa Diyos at ligtas kaming lahat, (Thank God we all made it safely). We expected to arrive in Manila after one hour and fifteen minutes. When we were given permission to leave at 5:45 p.m., it means that we can immediately land at Manila airport,” he said.

Romualdez also lamented the exodus of competent and experienced air traffic controllers for greener pastures abroad.