DALAWANG PASAHERO, HINIMATAY; IBA PA, NA-TENSYON SA AIR ASIA FLIGHT NA NA-DIVERT SA CLARK

DALAWANG pasahero ang kinailangang bigyan ng medical attention matapos himatayin, habang namayani ang tensyon sa iba pa, habang silang lahat ay nasa loob ng AirAsia Flight na na-divert sa Clark International Airport, habang patungong Maynila at umalis ng Da Nang International Airport (DAD) umaga ng August 17.

Ang Air Asia Flight Z2 823 ay lalapag dapat sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 dakong tanghali subalit na-divert dahil sa masamang panahon.

Ayon sa mga pasahero, pagdating sa Clark ay hindi sila pinalabas ng eroplano sa loob ng ilang oras. Ipinaliwanag umano ng cabin crew ang nangyari subalit habang naghihintay ng clearance upang makalipad patungong Maynila, pinatay umano ang airconditioning system habang nanatili sila sa loob ng eroplano sa loob ng ilang oras.

Sinabi ng pasaherong si Jay Aquino sa GMA News na dismayado sila dahil sa hindi ‘transparent’ ang airline at ilang oras pa ang lumipas hanggang sa may hinimatay na bago pa sila magdesisyon.

Dugtong ng kanyang kasamang si Lei Aquino, sarado umano ang pintuan ng eroplano at pinatay ang aircon: “…imagine, there was no air circulating inside so madami ang nag-suffocate, nag-collapse.. panic.”

Ipinaliwanag naman ng Air Asia na, “passengers were not kept onboard unnecessarily while a decision was being made. As this was a diversion to Clark, which was not the flight’s scheduled destination, the deplaning of passengers required coordination and clearance with the relevant airport authorities and immigration, as well as the assignment of an appropriate gate and designated area for the passengers.”

“The decision was made with the safety of guests and crew as our top priority. Upon arrival in Clark, guests were assisted and are being accomodated at the boarding gate provided by airport authorities. We understand the inconvenience this has caused our guests. However, given the prevailing weather conditions, safety remains our priority. Necessary operational proceeses and coordination must also be compleleted before the flight can continue to Manila. Our ground staff provided snacks while hot meals are being prepared,” dagdag pa ng airline at ayon pa dito, nagbigay sila ng bottled water ‘and full meals were also provided while arrangements were being made.”

Mariin naman itong pinabulaanan ni Jay Aquino na nagsabing: “ibenenta pa nila ‘yung water at tsaka snacks sa amin bago nila patayin ‘yung AC (aircon)… so, narealize na need namin ng food and snacks nung nawala na ang AC at me mga nahihilo na.”

“So, ‘yung news na they gave us, di po totoo ‘yun. Binentahan po nila kami,” pagbibigay-diin pa ni Jay na nagpa-plano din umanong maghain ng pormal na reklamo sa halip na daanin lamang sa social media ang kanilang sinapit.

“The fact that they (airline) posted a public sdtatement without sorting out first what happened sa loob, that’s very unacceptable,” aniya.

Samantala, napag-alaman na ang ilang pasahero na sumakay na lamang ng P2P bus upang makarating ng Maynila ay nagkanya-kanyang bayad din. Dumating ang bus sa NAIA Terminal 3 pasado ala- 1 na ng Agosto 18. (JERRY S. TAN)