Bicol airport operations resume after bomb joke

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 2) — Operations at the Bicol International Airport (BIA) resumed on Monday afternoon, hours after a Cebu Pacific flight requested security assistance after receiving a bomb joke.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 326 bound for Manila from Daraga, Legazpi received information that a crumpled piece of paper with the word «BOMB» was found inside the plane comfort room.

At around 11 a.m., CAAP said the 130 regular passengers and three infants were deplaned and airport operations were temporarily suspended for authorities to conduct inspection.

Landing and takeoff at the BIA were suspended at around 12 p.m. due to the presence of the Cebu Pacific aircraft on the runway.

Flight 5J 326 was able to safely depart the BIA at 2:39 p.m. after undergoing security screening by the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group.

Making bomb jokes or threats is punishable by up to five years in prison, a ₱40,000 fine, or both under Presidential Decree 1727.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act 11479) also makes bomb threats illegal and punishable by a 12-year prison sentence.

CAAP said normal airport operations have resumed at BIA but investigations are still ongoing.