Poe wants Xiamen Air mishap investigated

Senator Grace Poe will file a resolution on Monday seeking to investigate a Xiamen Air flight's hard landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that caused dozens of flight cancellations and left thousands of passengers stranded last week.

In a statement on Sunday, Poe, chair of the Senate Public Services Committee, said she wants airport authorities to explain the incident and enlighten the public on the operational procedures in responding to such emergency situations.

MIAA management pagpapaliwanagin ni @SenGracePOE, public services committee chairman, dahil sa matagal na aksyon sa pagsadsad ng Xiamen plane @dzbb pic.twitter.com/KLWA2cnJA0

— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) August 19, 2018

"Ano ba o meron nga bang standard operating procedure sa mga ganitong aksidente? This is not the first time that a plane has skidded off the runway and it certainly won't be the last," Poe said.

"Bakit inabot ng dalawang araw bago magsimula ulit ang operasyon ng NAIA? Hindi ba kayang gawin ito nang mas mabilis para hindi gaanong naperwisyo ang libo-libong pasahero?" she added.

Poe said that Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal will be invited to the hearing.

"We will give time for airport authorities to have a complete report on the effects of the runway closure during and after the incident," Poe said.

In a press briefing, Monreal acknowledged Poe's intention to hold a hearing.

"I respect the opinion and the resolution ng ating minamahal na senadora. We'll wait po kung ano ang magiging outcome ng kanilang patawag. I respect her view," Monreal said.

Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 skidded off NAIA's runway late Thursday night. No injuries were reported in the incident, but the mishap resulted in the cancellation and diversion of dozens of flights.

The plane was lifted from the runway around 2 a.m. on Saturday and transferred to Balabag Aviation Complex. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News