DOTr orders Cathay Pacific to explain passport mishandling incident

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), has ordered Cathay Pacific Airways to explain an incident where a passenger's passport was allegedly torn during check-in, leading to the denial of boarding at Mactan-Cebu International Airport on April 24.

A 65-year-old passenger was denied boarding for Flight CX948 bound for Dubai after his passport became unusable due to mishandling by airline staff during the check-in process.

Cathay Pacific has been instructed to submit an explanation of the incident by May 1, with Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon directing all airlines to prevent any tampering with passports at airports.

In response, New NAIA Infra Corp. management announced that security personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport are no longer allowed to touch passengers' passports during terminal entry and verification, ensuring that documents remain in the passenger's possession.

Passport inspection will now be handled exclusively by airline staff at check-in counters, immigration officers, and airline personnel at boarding gates.