Philippine Airlines Flight 812

Philippine Airlines

Industry	Airline
Founded	February 26, 1941 (1941-02-26)
Headquarters	Manila , Philippines
Products	Air transport services

Philippine Airlines Flight 812 was a domestic service operating between Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport near Manila. On May 25, 2000, an Airbus A330-301 assigned to this route was commandeered by Reginald Chua shortly before touchdown. The aircraft was carrying 278 passengers alongside 13 crew members.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was an A330-300, three years old at the time, delivered to Philippine Airlines in August 1997 and equipped with two General Electric CF6 engines. Following the hijacking event, it returned to active duty and was re-registered as RP-C3331 in June 2008. The plane was retired in July 2014, stored at Greenwood Leflore Airport, and ultimately dismantled in 2015.

Hijacking

Reginald Chua, armed with a firearm and grenade, discharged a shot into a bulkhead and demanded entry to the cockpit. Upon denial, he compelled passengers to hand over their valuables and instructed the pilot to descend and depressurize the cabin, intending to escape using a makeshift parachute constructed from a curtain sash. He exited the aircraft over Antipolo, Rizal at approximately altitude but encountered difficulties due to wind gusts; assistance for his jump was provided by a flight attendant.

Chua concealed his identity by wearing a ski mask and swimming goggles, initially using the name "Augusto Lakandula" from his ticket. The pilot expressed skepticism about his chances of survival. Three days later, Chua’s remains were discovered near Llavac village in Real, Quezon, roughly southeast of Manila. Investigators determined he died when his parachute failed to deploy properly. Confirmation of his identity came through his driver’s license. Reports suggested Chua had been facing job insecurity and financial distress; mental health concerns were also cited as contributing factors.

In popular culture

This event is depicted in the 2013 British movie Metro Manila. The main character, Oscar Ramirez (portrayed by Jake Macapagal), narrates the story of Alfred Santos, a textile factory owner whose father was killed by a gang employed by a competitor. After being forced to shut down his business due to persistent threats, Santos hijacked an airplane, demanding passengers surrender their possessions before leaping to his death.

See also

• Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305
• Vietnam Airlines Flight 850

External links

• Philippine Airlines Flight 812 at Aviation Safety Network