UPDATE: NAIA main runway closed as crew moves stalled plane out of harm’s way
OPERATIONS at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were disrupted on Friday after a Chinese passenger plane skidded off its main runway shortly before midnight because of heavy rains, aviation authorities said.
Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 stopped on a grassy portion of the airport but the incident forced the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to order the closure of the runway as crew started to move the plane out of harm’s way.
Airport officials reported that all 157 passengers and 8 crewmembers were safe and housed at a nearby hotel.
“Passengers were evacuated using the aircraft’s emergency chute and were brought to NAIA Terminal 1 where they are now being assisted by airline and MIAA personnel. Blankets and food were provided by the airline,” MIAA and CAAP authorities said in a joint statement.
Domestic and international flights were either cancelled or diverted to other airports as a result of the accident at 11:55 p.m. on Thursday.
Airport authorities said they would continue their investigation and recovery operation, which may halt airport operations until 4 p.m., as the runway will remain closed.
Airport officials are still on site to assess the situation and supervise the extraction of the aircraft.
Cancelled flights
Several flights from Cathay Pacific and from local carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific were cancelled. Affected flights due to the runway closure include:
Terminal 1 affected flights:
Etihad Airways flight EY 421 (MNL-ABU DHABI)
Saudi Airlines flight SV 871 (MNL-JEDDAH)
Hongkong Airlines flight HX 781 (HONG KONG-MNL)
China Airlines flight CI 711 (KHH – MNL)
China Airlines flight CI 712 (MNL – KHH)
Terminal 2 affected flights:
PAL flight PR 453 (MNL-GES)
PAL flight PR 454 (GES-MNL)
PAL flight PR 1845 (MNL-CEB)
PAL flight PR 1846 (CEB-MNL)
PAL flight PR 432 (MNL-TOKYO)
PAL flight PR 408 (MNL-OSAKA)
PAL flight PR 438 (MNL-NAGOYA)
PAL Express flight 2P 2959 (MNL-CDO)
Terminal 3 affected flights:
Cathay Pacific flight CX 908 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cathay Pacific flight CX 912 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cathay Pacific flight CX 907 (HONGKONG-MNL)
Cathay Pacific flight CX 906 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cathay Pacific flight CX 901 (HONGKONG-MNL)
Cathay Pacific flight CX 900 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cancelled flights of Cebu Pacific:
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 272 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 273 (HONGKONG-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 5054 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 5055 (NARITA-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 929 (MNL-BANGKOK)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 930 (BANGKOK-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 110 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 111 (HONGKONG-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 805 (MNL-SIN)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 806 (SIN-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 112 (MNL-HONGKONG)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 113 (HONGKONG-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 014 (MNL-DUBAI)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 015 (DUBAI-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 188 (MNL-INCHEON)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 187 (INCHEON-MNL)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 487 (MNL-BACOLOD)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 488 (BACOLOD-MNL)
Diverted Flights:
Philippine Airlines flight PR 105 (SAN FRANCISCO – MNL – DIVERTED TO CEBU)
Philippine Airlines flight PR 103 (LOS ANGELES – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK)
Philippine Airlines flight PR 117 (VANCOUVER – MNL – DIVERTED TO CEBU)
Philippine Airlines flight PR 115 (SAN FRANCISCO – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK)
Philippine Airlines flight PR 119 (TORONTO – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 187 (INCHEON – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK)
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 804 (SIN – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK)
WITH REPORTs FROM BENJAMIN VERGARA, NEIL SERVALLOS
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