Airport security personnel cleared portions of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 after an airline’s customer service chatbot received a message claiming that a bomb had been placed inside one of the terminal’s restrooms.
The Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) said Saturday that the message was received by the airline’s customer relations center on September 17 and was subsequently relayed to Airline Airport Operations and the NAIA Police Station 3.
The report prompted the Avsegroup Aviation Security Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to secure the restroom identified in the message, along with nearby sections of the terminal. Authorities restricted access to the affected areas while security checks were carried out.
Three explosive-detection dogs were deployed as part of the inspection. Security teams searched the restroom, trash containers and sections of both the arrival and departure areas for possible explosive devices.
Following the physical sweep and covert monitoring conducted by intelligence personnel, authorities determined that no explosives were present in the areas inspected.
Despite the security response, airport operations were not disrupted. Authorities are continuing efforts to identify the source of the message sent through the airline’s chatbot.
