MANILA, Philippines - Joking about bombs while on a plane is no laughing matter.

A group of people found this the hard way Thursday after an Air Philippines flight they were on did not take off after they started joking about a bomb on board.

Manager Bing Lina of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 said the AirPhil flight for Puerto Princesa was already taxiing on the runway when the pilot requested for assistance from the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group.

"Apparently, there was a group of people, group of 7, who made a bomb joke inside the aircraft. Up to now, they are still investigating the 7 people on board the aircraft," Lina told ABS-CBN News Channel.

Lina said all 176 passengers on board the plane were brought to the holding area of NAIA-3 while police inspect the aircraft and all the luggage onboard.

ANC On The Scene, April 12, 2012