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Budget carrier Cebu Pacific on Thu, Aug 13, said it is investigating reports of theft allegedly involving its crew in one of its chartered flights to China.
READ: Cebu Pacific issues a statement about the alleged incident of theft in one of its chartered flights
Reports have been circulating on social media that a male flight attendant of Cebu Pacific was allegedly caught stealing money from passengers on board a flight from Kalibo to Changsha.
What happened?
According to a Weibo post of a certain Ma Xiaodong, a teacher from Hunan Agricultural University, three Chinese passengers of Cebu Pacific flight 5J52 noticed that their money amounting to 8,000 yuan, equivalent to about P60,000, was missing.
When they complained, one male flight attendant allegedly ran to the comfort room supposedly to hide the evidence.
When airport police in Changsha inspected the comfort room, they reportedly discovered the passengers’ missing money in the trash can and in the toilet bowl.
Ma Xiaodong accused the whole crew of Cebu Pacific of conniving with each other to steal from the passengers.
Cebu Pacific management responds
In a statement, Atty. Paterno Mantaring Jr., officer-in-charge for corporate affairs of Cebu Pacific, said they have have been made aware of the alleged incident of theft.
“CEB is conducting a thorough investigation in parallel with an independent, third party investigating body on this alleged incident,” Mantaring said.
As part of the airline’s standard procedure, all cabin crew members of the flight have been placed on paid leave and a non-flying status, pending the investigation.
“CEB will take the appropriate action, depending on the result of the investigation,” added Mantaring.
CAAP investigates
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said they will ask for a copy of the results of the budget carrier’s investigation into the incident and will summon the flight attendant, if needed.
If they find basis, they will fill criminal charges against the flight attendant and revoke his license, CAAP spokesperson retired Brig. Gen. Rodante Joya said.
The CAAP may also look into the airline’s screening process for its flight attendants.
The CAAP nonetheless believes this is an isolated incident and that Filipino crew can still be trusted. —from a report by Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News
Photo: Mike Gonzalez (WikiCommons)
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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