The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered Cathay Pacific to provide an official explanation after one of its passengers was barred from boarding a flight in Cebu due to a passport reportedly damaged by airline staff.
The passenger, who was scheduled to fly to Dubai from Mactan-Cebu International Airport on April 24, was unable to proceed with his trip after his passport was allegedly torn while being handled during check-in. The damage rendered the document invalid, and according to the DOTr, no proper assistance or explanation was offered by the airline crew on site.
Cathay Pacific has been instructed to submit its side of the story no later than May 1, the agency said.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon emphasized the need for all airlines operating in the country to exercise care and avoid any form of tampering or mishandling of passengers’ passports.
This incident follows a recent policy shift at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), where security personnel are now prohibited from physically handling passengers’ passports at terminal entry to prevent similar cases of damage.
