Xiamen flight hard lands at NAIA, airline companies announce some flights cancelled and diverted
A few minutes before midnight, amid a downpour, Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 skidded off the runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Vonne Aquino reported on Unang Balita.
Based on information provided by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), all 157 passengers and 8 crew members are safe.
Personnel from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Aircraft Accident Investigating Bureau are at the accident area to start the probe on the incident.
The passengers were led out of the plane with the use of an emergency chute and brought to the NAIA Terminal 1 where they were given food and blankets.
The passengers are now billeted at a nearby hotel.
MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal and CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco coordinated with Xiamen Airline officials as they supervised the recovery and clearing operations.
CAAP Spokesperson Eric Apolonio said Friday that flight MF8667 will remain on the main runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) until the probe is concluded.
"May procedure ho 'yan eh. Kumbaga, SOCO 'yan, hindi pwedeng basta hilahin 'yan dahil kailangan ng imbestigador mo na makita yung naging cause nung insidente," Apolonio said on Dobol B sa News TV.
"Ike-clear ho yung runway dun sa tinatawag nating foreign objects o debris para maging safe sa landing at touchdown ng susunod na eroplano na lilipad after we declare it operational," he continued.
CAAP will look at data on the plane's flight data recorder and the body of the plane, which skidded along the runway while taxiing or rolling after landing.
Airport officials earlier said the NAIA International Runway 06/24 may be reopened by noontime on Friday. However, they later on said that at a delay may be necessary as the foul weather made the ground too soft to extricate the affected plane.
The airline companies have been informed of the runway closure and passengers who will be affected were advised to coordinate with their respective airlines.
Meanwhile, several airlines announced some flight cancellations while other flights would be diverted to the Clark International Airport.
Cebu Pacific has announced that the following flights have been cancelled:
- 5J 272 Manila-Hong Kong
- 5J 929 Manila-Bangkok
- 5J 5054 Manila - Narita
- 5J 110 Manila-Hong Kong
The following inbound flights have been diverted to the Clark International Airport:
- 5J 804 Singapore-Manila
- 5J 187 Incheon-Manila
The airline company also announced that passengers on the diverted flights will be taken by bus to Manila.
"The closure of the main NAIA runway will affect operations of our large wide-body aircraft. Our operations will be disrupted today and may cause severe delay of other flights," the company said.
"We will provide regular updates on our flight schedules today. Our priority is to ensure the safety of our passengers and to manage the flight disruptions."
Philippine Airlines announced the cancellation and delay of some flights:
- PR105 San Francisco-Manila (ETA Cebu 6:15 a.m.)
- PR103 Los Angeles-Manila (ETA Clark 6:16 a.m.)
- PR117 Vancouver -Manila (ETA Cebu 6:40 a.m.)
- PR119 Toronto-Manila (ETA Clark 6:05 a.m.)
- PR115 San Francisco-Manila (Clark (awaiting ETA)
- Dubai -Manila (ETA Saigon 7:11 a.m.)
- PR683 Dammam-Manila (ETA Bangkok 7:15 a.m.)
- PR657 Abu Dhabi (ETA Saigon 7:00 a.m.)
- PR655 RUH/MNL 16AUG UTP (awaiting ETA)
- PR219 AKL/MNL 16AUG (ETA Cebu 5:26 a.m.)
— with Rie Takumi/BAP, GMA News