Five-inch deep, nine-meter long damage caused NAIA runway closure —DOTr

A five-inch deep damage in the asphalt overlay on Runway 06/24 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was the cause of the closure order on Monday, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Data from the transportation department revealed that the crack in the asphalt  measured at five inches deep, one meter wide, and nine meters long.

"MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) General Manager Ed Monreal ordered the temporary closure of the runway to avoid safety issues and untoward incidents to aircrafts and passengers," the DOTr said in an emailed statement.

"The small asphalt cracks observed by airport crew in the morning got considerably bigger due to continued landing and take off," it added.

The department said a bigger area of 4 meters by 19 meters would undergo construction to avoid further deterioration.

The MIAA ordered the closure of the runway from 04:30 p.m to 11:00 p.m., leading to the diversion of flights of both Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific.

For his part, Clark International Airport Corp. President Dino Tanjuatco confirmed that 22 flights were diverted there as of 07:00 p.m. Three more diverted PAL flights from London, Tokyo, and Macau.

"Others scheduled to arrive were already put on hold at airport of origin," the DOTr said.

The estimated time of the reopening of the NAIA runway is at 11:00 p.m. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/NB, GMA News