Philippine Airlines (PAL) has stopped an elderly Filipino-American woman with COPD from flying back to the United States without a portable oxygen tank. PAL stressed it cannot waive the oxygen requirement as it gives importance to the safe and comfortable travel of its passengers. 蜜桃工作室 stock images
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Flag carrier Philippine Airlines聽 stopped an elderly Filipino-American woman from flying back to the United States due to her medical condition, a US media report said.
Jovita Domingo, 86, was not allowed to board a PAL flight despite showing a doctor鈥檚 certificatioon saying she was 鈥渇it to travel by air鈥� and that there was 鈥渘o need for [her to have an] oxygen support鈥�, according to a report from ABC7 News Bay Area aired on January 24 (US time). Domingo is said to be suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.
The report said Domingo went to the Philippines in September 2023 to visit her relatives. She booked a December 5 flight to San Francisco to return to his family in Florida but was eventually denied boarding permissions by the airline as she did not bring with her a portable oxygen tank.
READ: Goodwill gesture: PAL gives free oxygen service to Fil-Am elderly with COPD
In an interview with ABC7, Domingo鈥檚 son, Mosses, said they could neither afford the portable oxygen tank, which costs $3,100 (around P174,000) nor book another return flight.
鈥淪he鈥檚 upset, she cries sometimes. She just wants to come home, I want her to come home, we all want her to come home,鈥� he said.
In a letter shown in the ABC7 report, a doctor from Pittsburgh called the airline鈥檚 refusal to let Domingo fly 鈥渦nbelievable.鈥�
ABC7 said they contacted the Philippines鈥� flag carrier for comment on the matter. When it did not get a reply from the airline, it then contacted Rep. Mark DeSaulnier from California鈥檚 10th Congressional District, the Philippine consulate in the US, and the US Department of Transportation for assistance.
Initially, the report said the Philippines鈥� flag carrier issued 鈥渢ravel credits鈥� for Domingo鈥檚 unused plane ticket. Eventually, an airline representative called Mosses and told him that they would give them a refund.
The report further noted that the US Transportation Department is reviewing whether PAL committed a violation or discrimination against Domingo.
READ: PAL denies 鈥榚mergency landing鈥� of aircraft at Sydney airport
In a statement on January 25, PAL said the decision to not allow Domingo to fly 鈥渟tems from a comprehensive review conducted by our aviation medical team.鈥�
鈥淲hile we acknowledge and respect the assessments provided by her personal physicians, our medical experts 鈥� who specialize in aviation medicine 鈥� take into consideration various factors unique to air travel, including concerns over variations in cabin air pressure and oxygen levels that occur once an aircraft is airborne. These may further complicate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), particularly if a patient has other co-morbidities as confirmed by Ms. Domingo鈥檚 submitted medical certificates and laboratory results.鈥�
PAL explained that a portable oxygen device would help Domingo withstand difficulties of a long-distance flight from Manila to San Francisco and provide vital support in the event of a sudden emergency while in transit.
鈥淥ur medical team only had Ms. Domingo鈥檚 health and wellbeing in mind when they concluded that she could travel safely on a flight if she has the proper medical equipment 鈥� in the form of oxygen support 鈥� on board,鈥� it noted. 鈥淚n the interests of safety and Ms. Domingo鈥檚 welfare, we cannot waive the oxygen requirement as determined by our medical experts.鈥�
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PAL said that 鈥渁s a gesture of goodwill,鈥� it would provide Domingo the inflight oxygen service and corresponding additional seat to accommodate the equipment free of charge. It also said that Domingo would be accommodated on its PR104 flight from Manila to San Francisco with the necessary medical support at no additional cost to her or her family.
鈥淭his decision is made in the spirit of goodwill and support for her situation and does not represent a change in our policy regarding the necessity of inflight oxygen for our passenger鈥檚 safety,鈥� the airline firm, however, pointed out.