Politics · Philippines Bureau
Court finds AirAsia crew member liable in deaf passenger discrimination case
A Puerto Princesa court has convicted a former senior cabin crew member of AirAsia for discriminating against three deaf passengers who were removed from a flight in 2017. The Municipal Trial Court in Cities ruled that the airline employee violated the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.
LSN Philippines ·
The Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), Branch 1, in Puerto Princesa has found Richie A. Rojas, a former AirAsia senior cabin crew member, liable under Republic Act No. 7277, the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, for discriminating against three deaf passengers.
The three passengers were offloaded from an AirAsia flight in 2017 following an incident involving the crew member. The case highlights continuing concerns about the treatment of persons with disabilities in the Philippine transportation sector and the implementation of disability rights protections.
The court's decision reinforces legal protections afforded to Filipinos with disabilities under the Magna Carta, which prohibits discrimination based on disability status. The ruling serves as a precedent for similar cases involving service providers and establishments.
AirAsia has not yet issued a public statement regarding the court decision. The case underscores the importance of crew training and compliance with disability rights regulations in the aviation industry across Southeast Asia.