Xiamen plane removed from NAIA runway; no flights allowed until 12 noon

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesperson Eric Apolonio on Saturday confirmed that the Xiamen Air plane that skidded off the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has already been removed from the area.

The plane, which carried Xiamen Air Flight MF8667, was lifted from the runway around 2 a.m. Saturday and transferred to the remote parking bay of Balabag Aviation Complex, Apolonio said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

A mobile crane was used to lift the airplane, according to a report on News TV Live on Saturday.

Clearing operations are currently being conducted by the Manila International Airport Authority to ensure that Runway 06/24 is clear before operations can go back to normal.

For this reason, the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by CAAP has been extended up to 12 p.m., meaning no flights will be allowed until the NOTAM is issued, Apolonio said.

Around 150 flights have been canceled, according to News TV Live.

READ: List: Canceled flights on Saturday, August 18, 2018

"Importante ang safety ng runway. Kahit isang nut and bolt na maiwan diyan, very dangerous sa mga papaalis at papadating na eroplano sa runway... They have to take out foreign objects debris on the whole stretch of runway para sigurado tayo," Apolonio added.

Personnel had a hard time lifting the airplane which skidded off the runway before midnight Thursday due to the rains.

"Hindi ho basta namin mataas ang nasabing eroplano ng ganung-ganon na lang dahil masyadong malambot 'yung pinapatungan ng crane. Baka bumaon, lalong maapektuhan 'yung runway," he said.

However to his knowledge, Apolonio said there is no damage to the runway.

"'Yung nasabing aircraft, sa labas na pumasok, sa edge ng runway," he said.

Apolonio added that the NOTAM will be canceled and operations will go back to normal as soon as MIAA requests them to do so once the runway has been declared clear for takeoff.

The MIAA on Friday apologized to airline passengers for the inconvenience caused by the incident. Many flights were canceled or diverted.

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal on Saturday again apologized to passengers and at the same time thanked MIAA personnel who helped.

"Malapit na ho ang pagbukas ng ating paliparan at sana po ang mga naapektuhan ay magkaroon ng matiwasay na pagbabalik sa kanilang mga paroroonan. Marami pong salamat sa inyong pasensiya. Muli po akong humihingi ng paumanhin sa ganitong pangyayari. We have to make sure that passengers are safe and secure," he said in an interview posted on MIAA's Facebook page.

Investigation

Apolonio said CAAP already has the plane's blackbox and voice cockpit recorder to aid in their investigation.

The pilot is automatically grounded and will be summoned by CAAP for investigation, Apolonio added.

As for financial damages, Apolonio said MIAA will determine what sanctions it will give to the airline for the incident. —KG, GMA News