Media report misidentifies active Philippine Airlines pilot

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 1 August 2026 |  JP Asia Desk

Philippine Airlines refuted a Thai PBS World article that misidentified Captain Larry Malpaya as homeless in Bangkok and said he is an active PAL pilot. The carrier has asked the publisher to correct the article and related social posts.

Summary

MANILA — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has rejected a viral report that identified one of its pilots as a homeless former airline captain in Bangkok, saying the claim is false and urging the publisher to correct the record.

In a public statement, the Philippine flag carrier said the individual named in a widely shared Thai PBS World article is not a former PAL pilot. The airline clarified that Captain Larry Malpaya, who was identified in the report, remains an active pilot with Philippine Airlines and has not left the company.

PAL seeks correction

PAL said it has formally requested Thai PBS World to correct both the original article and related social media posts to prevent the continued spread of misinformation.

The disputed report claimed that a "former PAL and AirAsia pilot" had become homeless on the streets of Bangkok after allegedly losing his savings in the stock market and experiencing personal hardships. The story circulated widely on social media before PAL publicly disputed its accuracy.

The airline emphasized that the report had wrongly identified Captain Malpaya and stressed that he continues to serve as one of its active flight crew members.

PAL did not comment on the identity of the individual featured in the Thai PBS World story or on other aspects of the report, limiting its statement to correcting the record regarding its pilot.

Concerns over misinformation

The incident highlights the speed with which inaccurate information can spread online, particularly when it involves identifiable individuals and established organizations.

By seeking corrections from Thai PBS World, PAL said it aims to prevent further reputational harm and discourage the continued circulation of false information. At the time of the airline's statement, it had publicly confirmed that it was awaiting corrective action from the publisher. Online discussions also reflected that the story had been challenged after PAL's clarification became public.

The case underscores the importance of verifying identities before publishing reports that could affect an individual's professional reputation, especially when claims are amplified across social media platforms.

ATTRIBUTION: Based on a public statement issued by Philippine Airlines. Additional context is based on publicly available online discussions and reporting related to the disputed article.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.