Veteran actress Melissa Mendez has revealed that she battled depression following her controversial airplane offloading incident in 2015.
In an interview during the “Lutong Bahay” segment Kitchenterrogate, hosted by Mikee Quintos, Melissa reflected on a difficult chapter in her life. When asked about a challenge she overcame, the actress cited “the incident on the airplane” but declined to revisit the details of the event.
“I suffered from depression. I didn’t want to go out because I was worried people might believe what my adversary said about me, that I was a drunkard,” she shared.
Melissa said both parties involved in the incident had filed cases, but these were dismissed before reaching court.
“During that time, I was devastated. I would suddenly burst into tears. I would call my mom and dad to come over to comfort me,” she recalled. “And prayers, they really helped.”
In addition to her faith, Melissa sought professional help, which she credits for aiding her recovery.
2015 Airplane Incident Recap
The incident occurred during a flight to Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, where Melissa and businessman Rey Pamaran were involved in a verbal and physical altercation.
According to Rey, the dispute started when Melissa occupied his reserved seat, wanting a better view to take photos of the clouds during takeoff. Rey declined her request, which reportedly led to Melissa cursing at him.
Rey claimed that during the flight, Melissa, who he alleged smelled of alcohol, continued to curse at him and eventually punched him in the face. The altercation prompted the captain to return to Manila, where Melissa was offloaded and escorted by security personnel.
Melissa later issued a public apology, expressing regret over her actions. “I am owning up to my mistake. No matter what the reason might be, I had no right to hurt Mr. Pamaran. Again, my deepest apologies to Mr. Pamaran and everyone else who have been affected by this,” she wrote at the time.
Healing and Moving Forward
Despite the emotional toll, Melissa shared that prayer and professional counseling were instrumental in helping her move past the ordeal.