A female passenger was arrested after allegedly making a bomb joke aboard an aircraft at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in San Jose, Tacloban City, on 31 August 2026.

The incident happened while the passenger was at the galley of a flight bound for Manila.

According to the police report, the passenger approached a cabin crew member to ask for assistance in retrieving her laptop, which she had accidentally left at the departure area.

The cabin crew member coordinated with ground personnel, who made a radio announcement regarding the missing laptop. An airline passenger agent later located the laptop and returned it to the passenger.

Before the laptop was turned over, however, the passenger was asked to open it for verification.

The passenger allegedly responded in the local vernacular, “Ay, may bomba ’yan.”

PNP Aviation Security Group personnel immediately implemented standard airport security protocols and arrested the passenger.

She was informed of her constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine.

The PNP Aviation Security Group is preparing a criminal complaint for possible violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727, or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law. The investigation remains ongoing.

PNP AVSEGROUP Director PBGen Dionisio B. Bartolome Jr. reminded passengers that bomb-related jokes or statements are treated as serious security concerns and can trigger immediate security and law enforcement responses at airports.

Authorities reiterated that such incidents can disrupt airport operations and potentially compromise aviation security, prompting security personnel to respond accordingly.