(Eagle News) — A Chinese passenger plane skidded off a runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday night, Aug. 17.
According to the Manila International Airport Authority, all 157 passengers and eight crew members of the Xiamen Airlines plane, with flight number MF8667, were safe.
Based on a report, the plane experienced a “runway excursion” as it was about to land on the runway at 11:55 p.m. amid the heavy downpour.
Initial reports said the plane’s aircraft engine had been detached.
Its wings and engines were heavily damaged in the incident, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, which also said the plane circled the airport for an hour before attempting to land.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director Capt. Jim Sydiongco and Accident Investigation Inquiry Board (AIIB) chief Mr. Rainer Baculinao were on site to assess the situation, said a CAAP media advisory.
In a radio interview, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesperson Eric Apolonio said that the plane will remain on the main runway until an inquiry into the incident is completed.
A joint statement by NAIA and CAAP said international runway 06/24 will be closed until 12 noon today.
According to MIAA, these flights were redirected:
Philippine Airlines
- PR 105 SAN FRANCISCO – MNL > Diverted to Cebu
- PR 103 LOS ANGELES – MNL > Diverted to Clark
- PR 117 VANCOUVER – MNL > Diverted to Cebu
- PR 115 SAN FRANCISCO – MNL > Diverted to Clark
- PR 119 TORONTO – MNL > Diverted to Clark
These flights, on the other hand, were canceled:
NAIA Terminal 1
- Etihad Airways: EY 421 MNL- ABU DHABI 2336H
- Saudia Airlines: SV 871 MNL – Jeddah 1810H
- Hongkong Airlines: HX 781 HONG KONG-MNL 2300H
- China Airlines: CI 711 KHH – MNL 0910H
- China Airlines: CI 712 MNL – KHH 1000H
NAIA Terminal 2
Philippine Airlines:
- PR 453 MNL-GES 0715H
- PR 454 GES-MNL 1215H
- PR 1845 MNL-CEB 0655H
- PR 1846 CEB-MNL 1010H
- PR 432 MNL-TOKYO 1440H
NAIA Terminal 3
Cathay Pacific:
- CX 908 MNL-Hong Kong 0600H
- CX 912 MNL – Hong Kong 0825H
- CX 907 Hong Kong – MNL 0940H
- CX 906 MNL- Hong Kong 1050H
- CX 901 Hong Kong – MNL 1125H
- CX 900 MNL – Hong Kong 1235H
Cebu Pacific:
- 5J 272 MNL- Hong Kong 0600H
- 5J 273 Hong Kong – MNL 1200H
- 5J 5054 MN – Hong Kong 0615H
- 5J 5055 NARITA – MNL 1720H
- 5J 929 MNL-BANGKOK 0615H
- 5J 930 Bangkok – MNL 1445H
- 5J 110 MNL-Hong Kong 0735H
- 5J 111 Hong Kong- MNL 1400H
- 5J 805 MNL-SIN 1330H
- 5J 896 SIN-MNL 2330H
With reports from Jet Hilario, Earlo Bringas