NAIA runway closure extended to 5 a.m. on Saturday —MIAA

The closure of Runway 06/24 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has been extended to 5 a.m. on Saturday, the Manila International Airport Authority has announced.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "QRT", the extension was needed to give more time for the set-up of equipment needed to remove the diabled Xiamen Airlines plane that overshot the runway.

Xiamen Airlines flight MF8667, a Boeing B737 type aircraft, landed at NAIA’s runway 24 at 11:55 p.m. on August 16 but overshot the runway after landing.

All 157 passengers and 8 crew were safe and were attended to by airport staff at NAIA’s Terminal 1.

The passengers were led out of the plane with the use of an emergency chute and brought to the NAIA Terminal 1 where they were given food and blankets.

The passengers are now billeted at a nearby hotel.

As of posting time, the aircraft is still in a grassy area near the perimeter road in front of the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance-Air Traffic Management antenna.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the tail end of the aircraft was lifted so that baggage from the aircraft compartment may be unloaded.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) had originally issued a notice telling airlines the runway would remain closed only until 4 p.m.Friday.

As a result of the incident, many flights were affected due to the runway closure.

Personnel from the CAAP Aircraft Accident Investigating Bureau have already gone to the accident area to start the probe on the incident.

The CAAP will look at data on the plane's flight data recorder and the body of the plane, which skidded along the runway while taxiing or rolling after landing. —NB/MDM, GMA News