A PAL pilot told passengers that his life was more important than theirs after a Bangkok to Manila flight was delayed for more than 5 hours. (VIDEO)

My life is more important, pilot tells passengers

MANILA: The management of Philippine Airlines has initiated its investigation against a pilot who told passengers that his life was more important than theirs after a Bangkok to Manila flight was delayed for more than five hours.

In a statement, PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said that they are conducting an investigation against Capt Filemon Tacan and will look into how he handled the requests of the passengers who asked to deplane while the ground crew were assessing the aircraft.

Philippine Airlines flight PR-371 was supposed to leave Bangkok at 1.50pm on Sunday but technical issues grounded to plane until 5pm.

Veteran journalist Inday Espina Varona, who was one of the passengers, described the ordeal as “hell”. She said only one air conditioning unit was working. Due to the heat, some parents stripped their toddlers down to their diapers and some stayed at the main exit for air.

It was during this juncture that Tacan tried to allay the fears of the passengers by saying that his life was more important than theirs.

“My life is more important than your life. I always consider my life more (important) than anybody. I will not lie to you. With that in mind, my life is more important than anybody else’s,” he told the passengers.

Tacan was also quoted as saying that he had experienced 10-hour delays in the cockpit where the temperature is far higher compared to the cabin of the plane.

“PAL is conducting an investigation and reminding all flight crew to use the standard announcement at all times. It is unfortunate that there was a deviation from the norm as far as communication is concerned. We apologise for the way it affected the sensibilities of passengers,” Villaluna said.

PAL said that Tacan is an experienced pilot with more than 30 years experience. — Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network