Cebu Pacific might ban passenger who slapped cabin crew member

MANILA, Philippines – Cebu Pacific (CEB) said it is investigating an incident of physical assault against one of its cabin crew members during a flight from Manila to Davao last July 30.

This early, however, one of the actions it considers taking is to ban the passenger who allegedly slapped the airline staff. 

In a statement on Monday, August 1, the airline said a passenger onboard flight 5J 995 had slapped a female cabin crew member. “Prior to departure, the same passenger had argument with another crew member over a request that passengers stow their baggage appropriately.“

“Following arrival in Davao and upon disembarkation from the aircraft, the passenger physically assaulted another member of the Cabin Crew by slapping her on the face,” the airline said.

On Sunday, the Facebook page A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge posted photos purportedly showing the assaulted cabin crew member, who was slapped in the face allegedly for refusing to lift the baggage in the overhead bin.

In its statement, however, CEB said its cabin crew member assisted the passenger in stowing the luggage.

“CEB wishes to clarify that its Cabin Crew’s primary duty is to ensure the safety and security of its passengers onboard the flight. Cabin Crew members are ready to assist passengers in carrying and properly stowing hand carried bags during boarding and deplaning, as necessary,” it said.

The airline added that it is providing its support to the assaulted cabin crew member, who is mulling legal charges against the passenger.

“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,” the airline said. – Rappler.com