PAL passenger nabbed for hitting glass window

AIRPORT policemen arrested an American national for attempting to break window glass of a Philippine Airlines (PAL) aircraft bound for Cebu from Manila on early morning Friday, a police official reported.

Superintendent Joey Salido, chief of the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security based at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, named the suspect as 80-year-old Rex Maybert Hampton of Oregon, Portland.

Salido said they are preparing a charge of malicious mischief resulting to damage to property and violation of the Civil Air Regulation for endangering the life of the other passengers.

The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. or 30 minutes after the aircraft took off from Manila.

“Allegedly, he broke the (window) glass, or hit the glass of the Philippine Airlines aircraft while on flight, using his cane,” Salido said. The three-layer window glass sustained cracks on the first layer.

“It was not totally broken,” said the official, adding that the American’s Filipina wife, Jovelyn, and the flight attendants were able to pacify Hampton, who was taken into police custody shortly after the aircraft touched down about 6:30 a.m.

Quoting Jovelyn, Salido said Hampton went hysterical after thinking that somebody was out to kill him inside the plane.

“He cannot even recognize his wife at the time so the wife is also wondering,” added Salido.

He said he asked the wife if Hampton took a medicine before the flight. “She (Jovelyn) said she cannot remember giving any medicine to her husband although she said that sometimes, he is taking anti-depressants.” (VR/Sunnex)