NAIA suspends ops due to lightning red alert

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Saturday briefly suspended flight and ground operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) temporarily after PAGASA issued a lightning red alert.

According to MIAA, the Lightning Red Alert was raised at 11:55 a.m.

“The alert is a safety measure taken to prevent untoward incidents from happening when lightnings are prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger personnel, passengers, and even flight operations,” it said.

In a separate advisory, MIAA said PAGASA lowered the Lightning Red Alert to Yellow at 12:42 p.m.

With this, “flight operations at NAIA have resumed,” the airport operator said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Depression Ester and Tropical Storm “Songda” (outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility) is expected to bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over several provinces in the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, and Visayas. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News