Melissa Mendez reveals suffering from depression after airplane offloading issue in 2015

Melissa Mendez said she went through depression after her airplane offloading issue in 2015.

In the “Lutong Bahay” segment Kitchenterrogate, the veteran actress was asked by host Mikee Quintos to share a difficult experience that she overcame.

“‘Yung sa incident sa eroplano,” Melissa answered, but declined to share her side of the story.

“Nagkaroon ako ng depression, tapos ayokong lumabas kasi I was thinking na baka maniwala sila sa mga sinabi ng kalaban ko na lasinggera ako,” she added.

She shared that cases were filed by both parties, but were dismissed before these got to court.

“During that time, talagang I was devastated, umiiyak nalang ako bigla bigla,” the actress added. “Then I would call my mom and my dad to come over here to comfort me, ganyan. And ‘yung prayers talaga.”

Aside from praying, Melissa also sought professional help. “Nakatulong talaga.”

In 2015, Melissa and businessman Rey Pamaran had a verbal and physical altercation aboard a flight to Pagadian City in Zamboanga Del Sur.

It began when Rey found Melissa in his reserved seat, as she supposedly wanted to take a photo of the clouds at take-off.

When he declined to allow her, Rey said Melissa flared up and started cursing him.

According to Rey's version of events, Melissa was restrained in her assigned seat, but during the flight, Melissa started cursing at him again, "reeking with alcohol." Rey said that he told Melissa to calm down, but she punched him in the face.

The captain then announced that they had to fly back to Manila to offload an unruly passenger. Melissa was then escorted to a waiting bus by security personnel.

Melissa wrote an apology, and said that she learned her lesson the hard way.

“I am owning up to my mistake. No matter what the reason might be, I had no right to hurt Mr. Pamaran. Again, my deepest apologies to Mr. Pamaran and everyone else who have been affected by this," she said. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News