MIAA: Canceled flights at NAIA climb to 69 amid slight improvement in Xiamen plane extraction

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Friday afternoon said there has been a slight improvement in the efforts to extract a Xiamen Air flight that skidded off the runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) late Thursday evening.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal gave the update during a press conference as the closure of Runway 06/24 was extended beyond their initial advisory that it would resume operations by Friday noon.

"Baka magtanong kayo bakit matagal, marami kasing proseso at marami tayong pangangailangan na dapat magawa bago ang isang eroplano na nasa 52 meters from the center line," Monreal said.

A Super Radyo dzBB report, meanwhile, said that at least 69 flights have been canceled since the runway incident.

During the press conference, Monreal said the MIAA has requested a telescopic boom crane to haul the plane to a safe distance.

He added that personnel have already unloaded luggage from the plane to reduce weight by the late afternoon.

"We have gained some slight improvements as regards to the situation of the aircraft, nakita niyo kanina natanggal ang mga bagahe at least makakabawas sa timbang para pag-alis ng eroplano ay mas magaan," he said.

In the briefing, Monreal reiterated that airport authorities, together with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), are doing their best to make sure the situation is resolved as soon as possible.

Airline authorities have yet to reveal the cost of the accident and the flight schedules it may have affected.

"Ang cost is secondary ang importante ay mabuksan natin ang paliparan para magamit ng mga pasahero," he said. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News