“The 5J971 near – death experience”
We were seated at row 22 with a great view on the back of the left engine that was heavily damaged. With Smoke filling the cabin, and the airline staff not letting us out, I just held my wife Joy and my son Jouno closer and prayed that there would be no explosion that would happen.
4:25pm
It all started while we were waiting for boarding at Gate 16 in T2 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. We were informed that our flight will be delayed for 20mins due to the late arrival of our turn around aircraft much to the dismay of the passengers awaiting boarding. Nevertheless we patiently waited.
4:30pm
But after 5 minutes, we were asked to transfer to Gate 20 as there were changes on the flight schedule. When we get there we were directly boarded to an awaiting plane. I thought our original aircraft was still not here? Oh well, I guess this is better than waiting further. This change however turned out to be a critical one.
4:45pm
A few seconds after the plane took off, I noticed a sudden change on the humming of the engine. It was pretty much like shifting to second gear in a car even when you haven’t got the initial speed that you want. I thought the timing was off. But we were able to reach our flying altitude yet it was rough sailing from then on. The fasten seat belt sign was turned on and off several times as there were a lot of air pockets and turbulence along the way.
Throughout the flight, the passengers notice something strange. The pilot went to the restroom about 4 times within an hour, and every time he gets out he looked dazed. At one time he even asked the stewardess to make coffee for him. I do not want to make any speculations but most people can hold it even for the entire trip. A fellow passenger who was seated at the first few rows in front whom I was able to talk with after the incident proved this fact true.
6:25pm
The captain announced our flight details saying that we are already on our initial decent towards Davao International Airport and that we would land at 7:05pm. I remembered him saying that the weather was fair but a little cloudy in Davao, which generated a sigh of relief for most passengers.
Then suddenly there was a really hard turbulence that went on for a while when the staff were collecting garbage disposals. They were ordered to go back in their seats and that we were already landing in a few minutes.
6:55pm
One thing I really noticed was the speed when we approached the runway. I am a frequent traveler, and this is my 11th plane ride this year alone. We were really going in fast! I did not see the flaps moving even a bit when we were approaching the runway. Based on my experience it should have initially moved as we go nearer to subsequently decrease our airspeed but there was no movement at all. I was shocked when I looked out the window and we were that close to the ground at that speed!
When we hit the ground it felt like a bowling ball hitting the floor. It was a really hard landing. Right on impact the flaps fully opened at once and the wheel was screeching like crazy. From the sound of it, the wheels were not turning at all as the pilot slammed the brakes to the floor hoping for a complete stop.
This caused a lot of commotion from the passengers as we all lunged forward. I can hear all the hand carried baggage rumble to the front of the aircraft. I can just remember looking at my wife on my right and holding her hand and when I saw her in the emergency landing position, I just held on to my 5-yr old son tightly bracing for impact. I can see the family sitting adjacent to us doing the same and protecting their month-old baby.
At the back of my mind I was thinking this is it! I was waiting for something to blow up… the plane veered heavily to the right the sound of metal dragged on the ground was something you won’t forget pretty soon and then I heard a pop from underneath us, probably the wheels breaking off or going aground, just before the plane took a front nose-dive on the grass…luckily when the airplane stopped it didn’t happen.
6:57pm.
The scene from inside the cabin was like a scene taken directly from a Hollywood crash movie flick. It was eerily dark with only the emergency exit lights on. We could hear the sound of the rain and wind gushing outside, and the loud cries of babies on board the plane. Nobody talked for a few seconds until my wife shouted “OPEN the doors” then people suddenly broke their silence. The smoke inside the cabin was enough to stir panic among the passengers reeling to get out of the plain. Yet we were instructed by the cabin crew to stay put, as they would wait for further instructions from the captain.
What? Really? You gonna wait for this freakin’ plane to blow while we were still inside? The initial responses from the passengers were a total mayhem. Everyone wants out. People were crying, some were trying to use their mobile phones to contact their loved ones outside, which I just realized could have been disastrous as it could ignite a flame that could blow us all off to the heavens.
1 min, 2mins, 5mins gone by and we are left to ourselves trying to figure out what to do next. Some members of the cabin crew were crying as well as they try their best to calm the passengers down. No ambulance, no fire trucks and no help from outside on the first few minutes of the crash. 23minutes after and with only smoky air to breath, not only oxygen, but patience, was running dangerously low as well.
It took the courage of one person, whom we only know as Captain Bok from the Philippine Navy, to stand up calm everyone down. He knew what he was doing and he was in control when even the cabin crew looked like they were really at a lost on what to do. Capt. Bok gave clear instructions for everyone to sit down so that we can leave row by row to prevent the plane from tilting over. He was the clear definition of a “guiding voice”.
In the midst of high levels of adrenaline rush, the heroes in all of us onboard sufficed as every man in the plane urged the elderly and those who have children to go out first, not minding the dangers that await us should the plane catch fire and blows to pieces. Amidst the chaos, it was elderly and children first. Classic human nature at its best.
I saw my son and my wife made it out safely from the window and that was enough to draw a smile on my face and my heart. Thank God they are safe. Now I have to save myself as well.
7:45pm.
When I finally got out of the plane I let out a big sigh of relief. I looked at the plane for the first time and saw the huge crack on one of the engine turbines. It was just then that I realized how precious life is and how someone from above just gave us a second serving of life. It was a brief 10 seconds of my life…but it could easily have been the last.
7:50pm.
There were only 2 vehicles that ferried the passengers from the grounds to the terminal. One was a private van most probably owned by somebody working on the premises, and another ambulance. The passengers are left out standing in the rain waiting for a ride. From the moment of impact, it took more than 5 minutes for the fire fighters to reach the scene. There were no medical first responders; in fact there were no one else. I can just imagine what would’ve happened to us if the plane did blow up and there were serious injuries on site. It would have been a mess.
8:10pm.
All the passengers are now safe at the baggage conveyor section, eagerly awaiting guidance or any support from the Cebu Pacific management. But lo and behold, again there was no one to face us. Wow, in the movies you could see an outpouring of support for people who have just been to such traumatic experiences. But for us…no food, no warming blankets for those who were dripping wet from the rain, no drinks, no nothing! Not even the sight of the cabin crew consoling passengers. There were even no seats for us to rest our shaking bodies so most people just sat on the conveyor itself. And then I remembered, yes this is not Hollywood.
8:30pm.
One employee from CebPac announced that we should not worry, as our baggage will be delivered door to door for compensation. This however back-fired since all passengers are weary of their hand-carried items left at the plain during the emergency exit that do not have any form of tags in them. It looked like some of the passengers were ready to pounce on the little fella.
9:00pm
we were all led to Gate no. 2 where we settled down and talked with CebPac’s management about the ordeal. Those who are from Davao were given some money for Taxi Fares, while those with connecting flights were offered hotels and meals. This was also the place where the hand-carried items were released to the passengers. We were also given juice drinks and a bottle of water during this time but it wasn’t enough to quench the anger of some of the passengers who are clearly dismayed with the absence of medical responders more than two hours after the incident. There were 3 passengers that needed help; one was an older woman whose blood pressure shoots up. The other one was a young girl on her twenties that is clearly suffering from panic attacks, and a pregnant lady that complains of severe abdominal pain… and yet there was no help until this time.
Luckily my cousin, Carlo Dela Cruz is a nurse working in Marbel Doctors Hospital, and another passenger, were capable of dealing with the situation. So just like what we did on board the aircraft, we took it upon ourselves to help each other. The two gallant nurses took care of the affected passenger until help arrived 3 hours after the incident in the form of one woman who have stethoscope and a BP apparatus. Yep! you heard me right.
9:45pm
We went back to the conveyor to get our luggage and went our separate ways, but still finding time to smile for the camera of all the media people waiting at the gates.
The whole ordeal was a life-changing one. We were really blessed to come out of a crash unscratched and alive and to call ourselves as survivors. There were more questions than answers as of this time as to what really happened. Some people said that 3 seconds before the plane touched the ground there was a sudden heavy rain and wind that made the plane swerve. Some said there was a power outage just before the plane landed.
Still some said that they saw one of the engines burning even before we landed, while others share that our engine barely whizzed by one of the metal markers as we were reeling down the runway. It would’ve blown the engine away and wrote a different ending to this story.
For all these extreme experiences, one thing stuck on my mind the most. As we were tumbled left and right, front and back on the runway, with virtually no control over our own fate, it was Jesus’ Name that was called upon by all the passengers. And it was the sincerest and sweetest “Thank You Lord” that was uttered the moment the plane came to rest.
To all the 165 passengers of Cebu Pacific Air Flight 5J 971…
We Did It!
June 2, 2013
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of us
by Nino Alinsub
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Rye
June 3, 2013
Glad you and your family got through it. I couldn’t imagine the stress you went through. Must have been traumatic! Glad that’s behind now.
dabawenyo
June 3, 2013
I am relieved that nothing more disastrous happened to CebPac Flight 5J 971. As to the medical respondents of the city not arriving immediately, I saw on the television news that the 911 medical respondents were ‘barred’ from intervening the incident as CAAP officials say that ‘nobody needed any medical assistance’. A concerned security guard called the 911 for help and not CAAP officials. It was an hour later that CebPac called 911 this time to ask for an ambulance.
Shelterine
June 4, 2013
am also one of the passenger.. seated at 20A left wing side..
SDRamos
June 4, 2013
when i was a toddler I too was in a plane crash, my mom still have the old newspaper clipping. All I can remember where people were rushing to get out of the plane and I can vaguely remember people in a stampede mode. The Good Lord has protected you all that moment.
My question now is will there be a class action against the Cebu Pacific and the Davao Int’l Management? I pity for the pilot for he must be really in bad situation as far as his career is concern. A mishap such as this is a career killer for the pilot and his co-worker.
God Bless you and your family!
chel
June 4, 2013
Thank You Lord Nothing Happen To all the passenger..
Momsicle
June 4, 2013
Glad u and ur family are safe…we are a long standing customer of CEB infact my family will be flying via CEB again tomorrow, and this incident really scares me.
liana
June 4, 2013
your story made me cry. God is good. To God be the glory.
Bibz
June 4, 2013
God bless you and all the survivors! it was your one prayer that lead you all to safety. 🙂
hellocza
June 4, 2013
Thank God. it’s your second life, if I may guess. And it is also a lesson for our government and Airline companies here in the Philippines.
Gaudz Pacot
June 4, 2013
it was definitely a pilot error. bear in mind: most airline workers are into drugs… ask saudia airlines filipino crew…
Leekeen
June 4, 2013
Can’t help but cry. Divine intervention works all the time.
Jinx
June 4, 2013
Unbelievable. Thanks for sharing your first hand account. I am astounded and stunned into disbelief at Cebu Pacific’s lack of training and professionalism in the face of danger—something incredibly fundamental and of utmost importance for a flight attendant’s training—to be able to navigate and steer their passengers in a state of calamity or danger calmly, and to get them safe. Period. In addition, I am livid at Gokonwei’s pathetic excuse of an apology without seeing to it that the distraught passengers receive any sort of compensation apart from juice, taxi fare, and luggage delivered to your door. I am not going to even continue about the lack of medical response. There is too much to say about this huge mess. I hope this will serve as a sound of alarm for the medical response team to up their game and do what they should be doing without sitting on their laurels, and actually finding qualified pilots and flight attendants who put the welfare of their passengers before theirs. Its their job.
yeen
June 4, 2013
praise God everyone is safe
ROBERT D.
June 4, 2013
SO CEBU PACIFIC IS NOT LITERALLY CAPABLE OF ANY CONTINGENCY MEASURES IN CASE OF PLANE CRASHES WHAT A PITY!!!! SO HERE IS AN UNSOLICITED ADVISE: BEFORE RIDING CEBU PACIFIC YOU SHOULD BE WELL INSURED PARA DI MAGKAPROBLEMA ANG IIWANAN NINYO…..
Joan
June 4, 2013
Unknowingly, my tears flow on my cheek while reading your story. What if…? What if, something more happened? What if, I’m one of the passenger with my husband, 9-month old daughter, sickly and senior citizen parent. God is really good that He embrace all of you from his protection.
We can’t blame the cabin pilot and crew, even they, don’t want it to happen. But sana, for the CEBUPAC STAFF at the Davao Airport, they should show concern or good accommodation to the passenger after the accident. Don’t they think that people might be hungry because its pass 7pm already? that there are senior citizens and babies that needs attention immediately?
Michaell
June 4, 2013
Physically & Spiritually, you were all born again. All praises unto God!
EMILY
June 4, 2013
I’M A FREQUENT FLIER, & ALL THESE YEARS I THOUGHT AMBULANCE & THE REST OF THE EMERGENCY CREWS ARE IN STANDBY MODE AWAITING “every” PLANE LANDINGS, I DIDN’T KNOW YOU’LL ONLY FIND IT IN THE MOVIES! ISN’T THIS AN AVIATION SOP? IF IT IS, WHERE WERE THE AVIATION AUTHORITIES TASKED TO MONITOR THE COMPLIANCE & SAFETY OF ALL THE PASSENGERS? IS THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION LIMITED TO BODY SEARCH & XRAYS? IT’S “QUITE” A GIVEN PEOPLE VIOLATE RULES & PROCEDURES, THAT’S PRECISELY THE REASON WE INSTALL “WATCHDOGS”(BUSY WATCHING TELESERYE PERHAPS?) TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE. IT’S A WASTE PAYING THE AIRPORT FEES! DOES IT TAKE DEATH OR HORRIFYING INCIDENTS TO IMPLEMENT RESCUE/SAFETY MEASURES? THE ONLY POSITIVE THINGS THIS MISHAP CREATED ARE: CABIN CREWS & AIRPORT STAFF “WILL HAVE REALIZED”(RE-TRAINING?) HOW TO HANDLE THE “AFTERMATH” SITUATION BETTER IN THE FUTURE, AIRLINE COMPANIES WILL HOPEFULLY LEARN TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY COMFORT TO DISTRAUGHT/HORRIFIED/SHOCKED PASSENGERS..THAT’S THE LEAST THEY CAN DO..WHO CARES ABOUT COMPENSATION AT THAT VERY MOMENT? CARE & CONCERN SPELLS A BIG DIFFERENCE..ALSO, MUST CREATE A READY CONTINGENCY PLAN – LIKE AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. I MUST COMMEND THE CREATIVITY OF PAL FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS TO GENSAN TO FLY IN-OUT..IT’S A HASSLE BUT FOR THOSE PASSENGERS WHO HAVE TO FLY, THIS IS A WELCOME MOVE. ALSO, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAMS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE UP TO THE LAST FLIGHT, NO MATTER HOW LATE.
BUT ON TOP OF THESE, WE MUST ALWAYS PRAY FOR SAFETY, PLANE OR NOT, AND THANK THE ALMIGHTY FOR EVERY SAFE TRIP, TO EVERY DESTINATION..
BY THE WAY, TOMORROW I HAVE A CEBU PACIFIC FLIGHT…YES SERIOUSLY! WISH ME WELL…PLEASE, NOT “GOOD LUCK”! .LOL!
TO CEBU PACIFIC – ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHING WHAT POSITIVE THINGS YOU WILL DO AFTER THIS..WE TRUST WE WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED…
SORRY IF I SOUNDED SARCASTIC AT THE ONSET- MY BEST FRIEND WAS IN THAT TRIP KAYA!
AJ
June 4, 2013
I can’t help but to cry upon reading this. Our Lord God is truly amazing. He saves all of you.
Manny
June 4, 2013
Well ….better think twice…..you get what you paid for…..budget fair….budget service?….helllooooooo, wake up people!!!
Manny
June 4, 2013
There was smoke in the cabin, there was damage to the fuselage……..there is such a thing as EMERGENCY EVACUATION……please send back those Cabin crew to TRAINING……
Kerima
June 4, 2013
How was he able to time this all out?? This entry is doubtful. The cabin was dark, how was he able to identify the smoke. An evacuation can only be carried out by a flight attendant in an event of fire, thick smoke, main landing gear collapse, and water landing. Other than that it must come from the Captain.
aprille
June 4, 2013
NOTHING IS MORE POWERFUL THAN PRAYER..GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
Athena Granados
June 4, 2013
CAAP should not be allowed to do the investigation but should instead be the one investigated this time. Cebu Pacific has always managed to get away with negligence and total disregard for its passengers. Flying Cebu Pacific is like having your life hanging on a very thin thread. Why has CAAP allowed it to keep on operating despite the many inadequacies both on the ground and air borne operations. Remember how CAAP behaved during the ill-fated crash of Sec. Jesse Rebredo’s plane? That wasn’t too long ago. And Davao airport not having emergency/medical responders??? YOu regard yourselves in the service business. That pilot has to be creamed for losing his equanimity way too early in the flight and should be tested for airworthiness, for lack of a better word. I have always balked at flying Cebu Pac despite its tempting promos. You can easily judge how they are by observing how they work during emergencies and what they do when flights are suddenly cancelled. CP sucks!!!.
Rod
June 4, 2013
I just remember a flight from Davao to Manila last January 2013, the plane power shuts down right after we landed. Luckily, it never shuts down in-the-mid air.
Jan Wong
June 4, 2013
You’ve been blessed bro. and also to the other passengers. 🙂 thank god you’re all safe 🙂
Jhay Teng Mello
June 4, 2013
let’s boycott Cebu Pacific
JEM
June 4, 2013
Cebu Pacific should stop thinking about new games to play during flight and instead re-train its people on emergency response.
Jerry
June 4, 2013
problem with emergency evacuation is they need to confirm with the pilots that the engine is turned off or else either you get sucked into the engine and come out liquefied or get blown off by the exhaust. I think it depends on the airport because in other airports I see emergency crews going to their vehicles when the klaxon start screaming which means the plane will land in a few minutes. Hmm… pilot error? or software issue?
echomike
June 4, 2013
Luckily, the pilot did a great job
Nurseprof
June 4, 2013
I was crying while reading your first hand account of what had happened? What if….the plane get blown…:(….God will always make a way and thanks for the divine intervention during those times. Hopefully Cebu Pacific Management will respond very quickly!
ED
June 4, 2013
THANKS LORD…. EVERYBODY IS SAFE…. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME….
Juan dela vega
June 4, 2013
Dude, the engines didnt get cracked. It was just the reversers that were left open. Second, u were not evacuated immediately since there was no sign of fire. The smoke you saw inside the cabin came from the aircondition. If things were rushed during the evacuation, maybe you guys might get into more trouble. The crew maybe waited for the airport service first before letting you go out, and maybe because everythings under control. The delay of those shuttles isnt the airlines’ fault but more of the airport services. I emphatize for you passengers, but even those crew from cebu pacific didnt want that to happen as well. Lets all be thankful that no one got hurt. Im not siding anyone here. Like any problems we face, we should here both sides before we conclude things. I also have a relative on board 971 and like you, she was really upset for what happened, but above all, also thanked God that she’s still alive and thanked the crew as well for somehow being able to withstand that incident.
Franklin Canones
June 4, 2013
No to CEBU PACIFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Din
June 4, 2013
Sue the airline! If all the passengers in that fight would sue the airline, they might just fold. The problem with us Filipinos is that we forgive and forget so easily. There’s no excuse for the absnce of emergency medical responders at the cash site. The whole matter must be investigated . Sue people. Sue!
Juan dela vega
June 5, 2013
I commend you. You should initiate filing the case against them 😊
Peter Smith
June 6, 2013
Should be class action lawsuit on CEBU PACIFIC, I am in contact with LAWYERS, ATTORNEYS, and SOLICITORS and will not allow this to happen ever again.. Watch me Sue and Win. I have Won in the Past in phils..
eaglequipment
June 4, 2013
Praise God that all of the passengers are safe!
Dos
June 4, 2013
Kudos to the heroes of that flight. Truly worth commending.
jen
June 4, 2013
grabeh! my tears falling down as i read your story…thnx god you are all safe..but to the managment of cebu pacific..how i wish it gives you moral lesson as well so that more passengers will still ride on your plane….
Paul Pisig
June 5, 2013
Tears fell from my eyes while reading your article. I thank God for saving all the passengers.
Deetsie
June 5, 2013
I can’t imagine being in that plane at that time. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. Thank you for sharing your first hand experience.
Juan dela vega
June 6, 2013
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gmanetwork.com%2Fnews%2Fstory%2F311568%2Fnews%2Fregions%2Fcebu-pacific-crew-in-davao-plane-mishap-followed-correct-protocol-caap&h=XAQFPhux5AQHVIEME3QCoHb242mWAf80VX-vk23W6FLQB1g&s=1 – to the author, i guess this answers some of your false statement. Happy reading! 😉