A conversation believed to be about bombs put on delay a Manila-bound flight from the New Bacolod-Silay Airport. 

Personnel of the Philippine National Police, Aviation Security Group, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) inspected the aircraft after two passengers were overheard to have purportedly joked about bombs and “Watusi” (a type of firecracker) while inside the plane at the Bacolod-Silay Airport morning of October 19, 2024.

According to Aviation Police, a flight attendant heard a conversation of two passengers.

Passengers were then directed to vacate the plane for inspection.

The two passengers were investigated by the authorities.

Later, the authorities said that there was no bomb joke, and that the flight attendant misinterpreted the conversation between the two passengers.

The flight proceeded after it was cleared safe.

However, the delay caused trouble upon two other passengers who had to reschedule their flight.

The incident was confirmed to the news team by Engr. John William Fuerte, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) manager at Bacolod-Silay Airport, but he refused an on-camera interview, saying he has no authority to do so.

“Nag-cause lang ng konting delay dahil nga hindi nagkaintindihan yung FA [flight attendant] tsaka yung pasahero. So, nagkamali ng interpretation yung FA. Akala niya na tungkol sa mga bomba-bomba," Engr. Fuerte said.