Cebu Pacific in Hot Water
Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific is in trouble yet again. The carrier was involved in an incident that led to an injury sustained by a young child during in-flight service on board flight 5J 8974.
The daughter of lawyer Ryan Quilala sustained what was characterised as first-degree burns to her right arm on a routine flight from Davao to Manila on May 27. This happened after a flight attendant, whose identity is still unknown, accidentally poured hot and "steaming water" on the child’s right arm.
Attorney Quilala intends to file a negligence case against the flight attendant involved in the incident. The carrier may also face a suit for damages for what Quilala describes as “anxiety” and “trauma” experienced by his family.
It was revealed by Quilala that no first aid kits were available and that the crew on board the flight had not received first aid training. Quilala was further enraged when the flight crew was unable to administer first aid properly. Instead of running water, a plastic bag of ice was applied directly to the daughter’s burning arm. Under World Health Organisation guidelines, it is incorrect to apply ice directly to a burn wound as it will worsen the wound.
Moreover, when Quilala asked for ointment, it took 20 minutes for his daughter to receive it. When they received the ointment, the package was written in German, hence it took a while to verify whether the ointment expired or not. It was later determined that the ointment had not yet expired.
Because of the lack of first aid kits, the parents of the little girl wrapped baby cloth around her wound instead. Quilala initially wrote a handwritten letter to the carrier, where the senior flight attendant assured him that the company would respond by email the following day. Despite giving a two-day allowance, Cebu Pacific did not return Quilala’s email. Quilala then decided to write a formal letter addressed to Lance Gongwei notifying him that action would be taken against the carrier for their “seeming indifference” to his daughter’s injury, and to protect his daughter’s and family’s rights under all relevant laws. Quilala also referred the incident to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for other administrative remedies. Cebu Pacific said the incident is currently under investigation.
Under the Passenger Bill of Rights, injured passengers are entitled to compensation. In the case of domestic flights, the amount of compensation due to a passenger will be based on a “stipulated amount in the relevant convention that governs international flights.” Earlier this year, a formal complaint was filed against Cebu Pacific after a young boy requiring surgery abroad was denied boarding due to the condition of his passport.
In June of 2013, an Airbus A320 belonging to the carrier overshot a runway at Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport. Nobody was reported dead, but the plane sustained heavy damage and the airport was closed for a few days. According to the official report released by the Civil Aviation Authority, that incident was blamed on pilot error. Two weeks later, another Cebu Pacific flight, 5J 448 sideswiped and damaged runway lights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. That incident was blamed on inclement weather.
-HybridAce101
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
Attorney Quilala intends to file a negligence case against the flight attendant involved in the incident. The carrier may also face a suit for damages for what Quilala describes as “anxiety” and “trauma” experienced by his family.
It was revealed by Quilala that no first aid kits were available and that the crew on board the flight had not received first aid training. Quilala was further enraged when the flight crew was unable to administer first aid properly. Instead of running water, a plastic bag of ice was applied directly to the daughter’s burning arm. Under World Health Organisation guidelines, it is incorrect to apply ice directly to a burn wound as it will worsen the wound.
Moreover, when Quilala asked for ointment, it took 20 minutes for his daughter to receive it. When they received the ointment, the package was written in German, hence it took a while to verify whether the ointment expired or not. It was later determined that the ointment had not yet expired.
Because of the lack of first aid kits, the parents of the little girl wrapped baby cloth around her wound instead. Quilala initially wrote a handwritten letter to the carrier, where the senior flight attendant assured him that the company would respond by email the following day. Despite giving a two-day allowance, Cebu Pacific did not return Quilala’s email. Quilala then decided to write a formal letter addressed to Lance Gongwei notifying him that action would be taken against the carrier for their “seeming indifference” to his daughter’s injury, and to protect his daughter’s and family’s rights under all relevant laws. Quilala also referred the incident to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for other administrative remedies. Cebu Pacific said the incident is currently under investigation.
Under the Passenger Bill of Rights, injured passengers are entitled to compensation. In the case of domestic flights, the amount of compensation due to a passenger will be based on a “stipulated amount in the relevant convention that governs international flights.” Earlier this year, a formal complaint was filed against Cebu Pacific after a young boy requiring surgery abroad was denied boarding due to the condition of his passport.
In June of 2013, an Airbus A320 belonging to the carrier overshot a runway at Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport. Nobody was reported dead, but the plane sustained heavy damage and the airport was closed for a few days. According to the official report released by the Civil Aviation Authority, that incident was blamed on pilot error. Two weeks later, another Cebu Pacific flight, 5J 448 sideswiped and damaged runway lights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. That incident was blamed on inclement weather.
-HybridAce101
