AirAsia Philippines on Tuesday reminds its guests to refrain from bomb jokes and strictly follow security protocols in the airports for hassle-free travel.
The budget airline said this includes bomb jokes which can disrupt not only the involved flight but also all the succeeding flights carried by the same aircraft and affect other airline operations as well or worse, divert flights.
A few days ago, a flight from Narita bound for Manila was disrupted for more than two hours after a passenger joked about a bomb in his luggage, which prompted local authorities to perform a mandatory security screening of the aircraft as well as its baggage and cargo.
Last week a guest bound for Tacloban who checked in late and missed his flight threatened to “blow up” the airline out of frustration. While no flight was disrupted, the guest was brought to the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Enforcement Unit and banned from flying with the airline.
“As a matter of strict protocol, all matters of security such as bomb jokes are taken seriously,” AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs country head, first officer Steve Dailisan, said.
“AirAsia Philippines reminds the public that there’s no excuse for cracking a bomb joke on the ground and in flight as it immediately raises the alarm among personnel and can cause discomfort among other guests. Not only does it cause trouble, it may also traumatize first-time travelers,” he added.
Bomb jokes also carry serious penalties in relation to existing Philippine laws under Presidential Decree 1727 and Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2000, both punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine of P40,000.
