She’s mayor-elect of Bohol town, female pilot commended for landing ailing jet safely

CEBU, Philippines - Philippines Air Asia on Tuesday commended female Captain Gisela Bendong-Boniel for piloting its plane from Manila and landing it safely in Cebu, despite being hobbled with only one engine running.

The Certificate of Commendation, given by the company to Bendong-Boniel during ceremonies in Pasay City, was signed by PAA chief operations officer Dexter Comendador and accountable manager Josehine Joy Cañeba.

The commendation reads: “Her professionalism and dedicated service to the company in expertly handling the flight from Cebu to Manila Z2 782 on 28 Feburary 2016, which necessitated a precautionary engine No. 2 shutdown due to oil leak through outstanding airmanship, the flight safely landed back in Cebu.”

“Her actions are in keeping with her finest tradition of professionalism and expertise in handling inflight emergencies. This reflects great credit not only upon herself but to the Philippine Air Asia family as a whole.”

Bendong-Boniel is the wife of outgoing Mayor Rey Niño Boniel of Bien-Unido town in Bohol. She is now also the mayor-elect of the town, replacing her husband who is elected as Provincial Board member of the 2nd district during the May 9 elections.

Her husband had this to say on her air feat: “Congratulations Hon! Captain-Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel, you have a superb airmanship, you are truly one of the finest talents in AirAsia! Whew! t’was a memorable flight with only one engine running! though you are very privy on the details, but with this kind of commendation, I know it’s a matter of life and death situation.”

“And as a female captain you didn’t crack under pressure and even you deliberately shut down engine 2 as precautionary measure. I can just imagine how many lives you’ve saved! No wonder why Filipino pilots are known as the best aviators in the world!” said Mayor Rey Niño Boniel.

Bendong -Boniel expressed gratitude to the company for the award and to God, saying: “I would like to thank everyone who was part of that memorable Flight Z2 782 last February 28, 2016.”

To her colleagues in the aviation company, she said in her Facebook post: “Congratulations! We were united and had only one goal leaning towards what we call one hell of a successful flight.”  (FREEMAN)