It was supposed to be a routine early morning flight—but for Kim Chiu, it turned into a chilling experience that left her shaken and wide awake.

The actress and TV host recounted the frightening moment when her Philippine Airlines flight bound for Surigao del Sur was forced to return to Manila just minutes after takeoff due to a technical issue. What made it even more unnerving was what she had done before the flight even left the ground: she looked for seat 11A—the so-called “safest seat” on an airplane.

In an Instagram Story shared on July 9, Kim admitted that she might have been reading too much news lately, especially stories about recent aviation accidents. Her nerves kicked in as she boarded the early 4:30 a.m. flight. She said she caught herself trying to locate seat 11A, the same seat where the sole survivor of the June 12 Air India crash had been sitting. Coincidentally, it was also the seat occupied by Thai actor Ruangsak Loychusak when he miraculously survived the 1998 Thai Airways crash.

While the plane did manage to take off around 5 a.m., the calm didn’t last long. Noticing a flight attendant entering and exiting the cockpit several times, Kim began to feel uneasy. Then came the announcement: the aircraft had to return to Manila due to an unspecified technical issue.

Trying to suppress the growing anxiety, Kim attempted to sleep. But when she woke up and realized the plane was still grounded, her mind started to spiral. In her own words, “My thoughts went wild.”

Though shaken, Kim assured her fans that she is safe. She thanked the crew for their swift and professional response, even as she admitted that the whole incident left her rattled.

Kim’s story has since drawn attention from fans and fellow celebrities alike, many praising her honesty in sharing such a vulnerable moment. The incident is a reminder that no matter how famous you are, moments of fear and uncertainty are deeply human—and sometimes, they begin in the skies.