Pilot’s wife hits media revival of husband’s anthrax ordeal

"Why did the media revive the anthrax issue?"

This was the question asked by Celia Crisostomo, wife of Capt. Bernie Crisostomo, the pilot of the ill-fated Laoag International Airlines Flight 585 that crashed in Manila Bay last Monday.

In a telephone interview with The STAR yesterday, Celia said she was deeply hurt by the report which recalled her husband’s deportation from the United States earlier this year on suspicion of being an anthrax carrier.

"Can’t we not talk about that anymore? The anthrax incident is not even related to the crash," she said.

Celia, 42, on Monday denied that her husband was the same Capt. Bernie Crisostomo who was deported during the anthrax scare in the US along with another Filipino pilot.

Celia (not Felia as The STAR reported yesterday) said she made the denial only because she was more concerned about her husband’s situation after the crash.

"I don’t want him further demoralized by the media by bringing up the anthrax issue again," Celia said.

She emphasized that "bad luck" did not hound her husband, despite the traumatic events that have happened to him.

"We have received a lot of blessings from the Lord," said Celia, a devout Catholic who hears Mass everyday.

She said that her husband still appears shocked and traumatized by the crash last Monday. The pilot was also aware that several perished in the crash.

"He had nightmares last night. I watched over him the whole night. He would moan and move about," Celia recounted, adding that Crisostomo sustained bruises on his knees and wounds on his fingers. "He got them as he tried to open the exit door," Celia said.

Crisostomo has also been complaining that his right arm still hurts.

A passion for flying

Airplanes and flying are her husband’s passion, Celia said.

But she was not sure if he would fly another plane after the crash, his first after many years in the profession.

"We’re not talking about it yet. We have not even talked about the crash," Celia said.

The Crisostomos have been married for the last 10 years and are blessed with three children, aged six, five and four.

Celia said her husband has been with Laoag Air for at least a year and flies at least three times a week.

She stressed that the airline treated its employees well and that her husband never complained about the aircraft it used.

"He’s a very good pilot. He has presence of mind. Kung wala siya nun (If he didn’t have that), they could have all been killed," Celia said.

She recalled that it was Crisostomo who called her up on her mobile phone to tell her that he was alive and well.

"All I could say was: ‘Ikaw ba talaga yan?’ (Is that really you?)," Celia said.

"After hearing his voice and talking to him, I felt my whole body go limp. Parang nalantang gulay ang pakiramdam ko (I felt like a limp vegetable) out of relief. And all we could do was cry when we first heard each other’s voice."