Cebu Pac flight damages NAIA runway lights, pilot grounded

A Cebu Pacific plane figured in another airport-related incident amid bad weather Thursday afternoon, this time at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

 

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Jose Angel Honrado said the incident occurred at 4 p.m. Thursday, when heavy rain was lashing Metro Manila. 

 

"Initial report galing sa MIAA, past 4 p.m., nung umuulan, ang Cebu Pacific 5J-448 galing Iloilo muntik lumabas sa main runway during landing. Nasira ang limang landing lights namin," Honrado said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

But he said the incident did not disrupt other operations at the NAIA at the time.

 

A separate report by dzBB's Sam Nielsen said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines ordered the grounding of the pilot.

 

CAAP deputy director general John Andrews also said they will investigate Thursday's incident.

 

He also said there was no cause to declare an emergency.

 

"Landing ito galing Iloilo at medyo may kalakasan ng ulan," he said.

 

When asked if the NAIA's operations would be normal despite what happened, he said, "hindi naman nasira."

 

Thursday's incident came weeks after a Cebu Pacific plane made an emergency landing at Davao International Airport amid heavy rain. 

 

That incident forced the closure of Davao International Airport's runway for two days. —KG, GMA News