OFW found dead inside Gulf Air plane

(Updated 10:05 p.m.) Philippine airport authorities are looking into the mysterious death of a male overseas Filipino worker whose body was found inside a plane that arrived from Bahrain before noon Wednesday. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported that the death was discovered shortly after the Gulf Air plane landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. The OFW was identified as Marlon Cueva, a 36-year-old electrician, according to a report by GMA News’ Joseph Morong on “24 Oras".
“Thirty minutes prior to landing, our pilot advised us that they have an emergency on board," said Khaled Abdulrahman, airport manager for the Philippines of Gulf Air. According to the report, a flight steward found Cueva inside the toilet of the Gulf Air plane with a string, apparently from a jacket, tied around his neck. “Ang sabi sa amin ng crew na nakakita sa kanya, nakaupo (siya) sa lavatory at may tali sa leeg, kaya pinutol nila. Naka-hang (siya)," said Pasay City police chief Sr. Supt. Napoleon Cuaton. Investigators are trying to determine if the death was a suicide or if foul play was involved. The plane’s crew reported that Cueva had been restless even before the plane took off. “Ikot nang ikot doon sa loob ng eroplano at sinasabing patawarin siya at may kasalanan siya," Cuaton explained. The victim’s wife and sister, who were supposed to pick him up at the airport, refused to comment on the matter. In an official statement, Gulf Air said the company asked for medical assistance as soon as the plane landed, but it was too late as Cueva was already dead by then. "The flight landed normally and we are coordinating with the concerned authorities in the Philippines for post-mortem examinations," the statement read. “Gulf Air extends its sincere condolences to the passenger's family. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed," it added. Sketchy reports reaching Manila International Airport Authority operations manager Octavio Only last September 12, a baby boy was found inside the lavatory of a Gulf Air plane that arrived in Manila from Bahrain. It was only this week that the Social Welfare Department started putting closure to last month's incident when it confirmed as the boy's mother an OFW from Bahrain who was abused by her employer. — JA/RSJ/YA, GMANews.TV