A Chinese passenger plane skidded off Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) runway yesterday night, causing flight cancelations.
Xiamen Air released a statement posted on Chinese social media stating that one of their planes experienced “a runway excursion while landing at [the] Manila Airport.” It also reported that one of the plane’s engines detached from its wing.
In a joint statement posted on Facebook today by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which operates NAIA, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), they said that: “[The] Xiamen Air flight MF8667 went off the runway during heavy downpour. All 157 passengers and flight crew are safe.”
The passengers were evacuated through the aircraft’s emergency chute and are all safe.
“Blankets and food were provided by the airline. As of press time, passengers are being transported to a nearby hotel until operations of Xiamen Air resumes,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, a number of airlines announced flight cancelations earlier today:
Philippine Airlines:
PR 1845 Manila-Cebu
PR 1846 Cebu-Manila
PR 453 Manila-Cebu
PR 454 Cebu-Manila
Cebu Pacific:
5J 272 Manila-Hong Kong
5J 929 Manila-Bangkok
5J 5054 Manila-Narita
5J 110 Manila-Hong Kong
5J 273 Hong Kong-Manila
5J 930 Bangkok-Manila
5J 5055 Narita-Manila
5J 111 Hong Kong-Manila
5J 805 Manila-Singapore
5J 806 Singapore-Manila
5J 112 Manila-Hong Kong
5J 113 Hong Kong-Manila
5J 014 Manila-Dubai
5J 015 Dubai-Manila
5J 188 Manila-Incheon
5J 187 Incheon-Manila
5J 487 Manila-Bacolod
5J 488 Bacolod-Manila
Saudia Airlines:
SV 871 Manila-Jeddah
Hong Kong Airlines:
HX 781 Hong Kong-Manila
Etihad Airways:
EY 421 Manila-Abu Dhabi
Cathay Pacific:
CX 908 Manila-Hong Kong
CX 912 Manila-Hong Kong
CX 906 Manila-Hong Kong
CX 900 Manila-Hong Kong
China Airlines
CI 712 Manila – Kaohsiung
Aviation authorities also said that the reopening of NAIA’s international runway may be delayed until 4pm today.
“We’re thinking of extending the closure until about 4 o’clock [pm] depending on the progress of the recovery. Hopefully, we will be able to remove the aircraft in due time,” MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal told ABS-CBN News.
