Two dead as SUV rams into NAIA Terminal 1 departure area

A black SUV rammed into the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of two people.

"Mayroong dalawang namatay kasama na 'yung batang-batang five-year-old daughter ng OFW," Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said, according to Super Radyo dzBB.

(There were two who died including a very young five-year-daughter of an overseas Filipino worker.)

"3 ang injured na dinala sa San Juan de Dios Hospital... Ang initial report, I think okay naman," he added.

(Three were injured and brought to San Juan de Dios Hospital. I think they are okay based on the initial report.)

Among the injured rushed to the hospital for treatment was the mother of the five-year-old child who died. They were in the airport to send off the father, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), before his trip.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, however, the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), which oversees the operations of NAIA, said there were four individuals who were injured.

"Nakakalungkot talaga 'yung nangyari. Nakikiramay tayo lalo sa OFW na namatayan ng anak niya ngayon. Masakit. Kausap ko ‘yung father kanina. Hinatid lang siya (OFW) nung anak niya, pamilya," Dizon said.

(The incident is so saddening. We sympathize especially with the OFW who lost his child. That hurts. I talked with the father earlier. He was brought to the airport by his child, his family.)

NNIC said the company and its president Ramon Ang will extend assistance to the families of the victims. Ang was seen on site at the accident area following the incident.

 

Crashed through outer railing

The incident occurred before 9 a.m., the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said in a post on Facebook.

"At around 8:55 AM, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) crashed through the outer railing and walkway before slamming into the entrance of the Departure Area at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of two individuals—a male adult and a 4-year-old girl," the PRC said.

 

The PRC said it sent five ambulances and 18 volunteers to the area to respond to the incident.

"The driver of the Ford Everest is in custody right now," Dizon said.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) preventively suspended for 90 days the driver’s license of the SUV driver.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said a show cause order has also been issued against the registered owner of the vehicle and the driver.

"Rineview din namin ang CCTV kaya ako nagtagal kaunti. ‘Yung driver ay may inihatid na pasahero. Right now, initially, mukhang [hindi] pumunta ‘yung driver para managasa. Hindi intentional," he added.

(We reviewed the CCTV so it took me some time. The driver brought a passenger to the airport. Right now, it does not seem that the driver went to the airport to run over some people. It was not intentional.)

According to the LTO, the driver panicked as he claimed he saw a vehicle passed in front of him and stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal. Video footage shows, however, that there was no such vehicle at the time of the crash.

“(H)e told the police that he was about to leave the departure area after sending off a passenger when a sedan suddenly passed in front of him,” it said in a statement.

“This sent him to panic and instead of the brakes, he stepped on the gas pedal. As a result, two people died and three others were injured,” it added.

Mendoza’s remarks were echoed by Transportation Secretary Dizon, who said that initial investigation show that the driver had no intention of ramming people.

“‘Yung driver ay may hinatid na pasahero. May isa siyang pasaherong hinatid at pagkababa ng pasahero, tinulungan niyang ibaba ‘yung bag ng pasahero, pumunta na ‘yung pasahero papasok ng NAIA at dun na, biglang nakita namin ‘yung sasakyan na rumagasa,” he said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“So right now, initially, mukha namang hindi pumunta dito ‘yung driver para managasa. Hindi intentional, dahil nga nakita na meron talaga siyang hinatid na pasahero dito,” he added.

(The driver brought a passenger. He has one passenger and when the passenger alighted, he helped in bringing down the bag. The passenger then entered NAIA and then suddenly the car razed. So right now, initially, it seems as though the driver did not come here to ram people. It was not intentional, as we saw that he really brought a passenger here.)

GMA Integrated News has tried to reach out to the driver for comment on the matter, and received a message from his wife indicating that they will not be granting interviews.

According to the NNIC, initial reports showed that the SUV was parked near the entrance of NAIA Terminal 1 then it "suddenly accelerated, crashing through the outer railing and into the walkway."

SMC earlier confirmed the accident, citing initial reports that the vehicle specifically crashed through the outer railing and into the walkway near the terminal entrance.

The SMC said that the individuals who sustained injuries were being treated.

Meanwhile, the driver involved in the incident was placed under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The area has since been secured, and access is now limited to authorized personnel from New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and MIAA Security, who are currently conducting a full investigation,” the company said.

“At this time, we are awaiting official confirmation on the cause of the incident and reports of injuries. We are closely coordinating with all concerned agencies to gather accurate information,” it added.

In a later statement issued on Sunday, NNIC said its president Ramon Ang "will personally shoulder the medical expenses of the four individuals who were injured and provide financial assistance to the families of the two who died in the incident."

“This is a very tragic incident. Our priority now is to make sure the victims and their families receive the support and care they need,” Ang said.

The NNIC said it is working closely with authorities and is supporting ongoing response and investigation efforts.

"The company extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and wishes those injured a full and speedy recovery," it added.

Casualties

Body bags were seen being removed from the scene of the accident.

 

A blanket was also seen earlier under the SUV, and a tow truck also arrived at the area, based on a report of Mao dela Cruz on Super Radyo dzBB.

A man wearing a red sweater was also seen in distress, who was the father of one of the victims.

In an update, dela Cruz reported that the SUV was already removed from the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1.

 

Heavy traffic was also observed around NAIA Terminal 1.

PNP Scene of the Crime Operation personnel were on site to investigate the incident.

 

UPDATE: Sitwasyon sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 matapos bumangga ang isang SUV malapit sa departure area ng naturang paliparan ngayong Linggo ng umaga. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/sAkw7h1k0O

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 4, 2025

 

 —Giselle Ombay and Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG/RF, GMA Integrated News