Three suspected Islamic State suicide bombers opened fire at the crowd and eventually blew themselves up after killing 41 people and wounding 239 in Istanbul’s main airport.
This was the deadliest attack on Europe’s third busiest airport in a series of suicide bombings in Turkey this year.
The heinous crime committed by the extremist group ISIS killing innocent people at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, is a vile attack against humanity and the very reason too why some ABS-CBN entertainers were stranded in Turkey. Their flight back to Manila was delayed because of the suicide bombing incident.
The group of Amy Perez and Jonalyn Viray were supposed to take the flight back to Manila in Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey but was diverted instead to Izmir Airport in Izmir, Turkey.
Perez and her group took the flight from Madrid airport to Turkey after shooting the “Maalaala Mo Kaya 25 Kwentuhang Kapamilya”event of Ms. Charo Santos-Concio in Madrid, Spain.
They’re supposed to stop over in Ataturk Airport, Istanbul before flying back to the Philippines.
Ataturk Airport is the main international airport in Istanbul, Turkey and the third busiest airport in Europe.
The plane of Umagang Kay Ganda host, Amy Perez and her group were instead rerouted to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport due to the suicide bombing that occurred in Istanbul where it was reported that more or less 41 people were killed by the extremists with 239 wounded.
Before noon, the morning show Umagang Kay Ganda was able to communicate with Amy via phone patch while she’s inside the plane at Izmir Airport, where she got the opportunity to give an account about their situation.
Perez and husband, Carlo Castillo were in the flight together with singer Jonalyn Viray plus ten more Filipino companions.
The Umagang Kay Ganda host narrated: “Umalis kami sa Madrid actually delayed ang flight namin.
Dapat ang alis was 7:05 P.M., pero halos alas-otso na kami nakaalis ng Madrid.
Tapos 11 A.M. in-announce ng pilot nga na for security reasons dito kami ibababa sa Izmir [Airport], so ngayon wala pang advice.
Hindi pa namin alam kung may makukuha kaming flight, but yung mga kasama namin sa TFC, nagko-coordinate kung paano kami makakaalis dito.”
According to Amy, the plane staff did not reveal to them the actual scenario of the suicide bombing.
“Wala silang binanggit. Nalaman na lang namin nang nagbukasan na ng mga telepono yung ilang mga tagarito.
Dun nila nakuha yung notification na nakita sa balita na may nangyari nga sa Istanbul.”
Amy disclosed that she’s communicating with TFC in Istanbul and they’re still waiting for further instructions of what to do, whether they will be billeted in a hotel or take the trip by means of land transport in going to Istanbul.
Meanwhile, Amy posted on her Instagram account by telling that they were advised to disembark from the plane and instructed to stay inside the Izmir Airport.
Afterwards, an airport bus picked them up and took them to the hotel around 6 a.m. (Turkish time).
Amy would like to thank everyone who prayed for their safety.
Jonalyn Viray also posted on her Instagram account describing about an alternative route back to Manila and telling that it will be a longer trip compared to the original flight schedule.
She said: “Na-divert at na-stranded kami dito sa Izmir Turkey (5hrs away frm Istanbul) since midnight.
“Looked for another flight available to Manila.”
From their hotel accommodation, they will go back to Izmir Airport where the plane will take them to Ankara, Turkey. From Ankara, the group will fly to Doha, Qatar and will embark on another plane back to the Philippines.
“Medyo marami kaming dadaanan, from Izmir to Ankara, Ankara to Doha, Doha to finally Manila.”
In spite of what happened, Jonalyn was still very thankful that they were spared from a possible disaster.
Jonalyn remarked: “Mahaba-habang byahe uli ito pero nagpapasalamat kami nina Ms. Amy, Kuya Carlo (Ms. Amy’s husband) and Ate Arlene, my manager, dahil safe naman kami and thank you also to everyone who helped us and messaged us. God bless!”
