Xiamen Air pilot didn’t answer NAIA tower before landing —CAAP

The pilot of Xiamen Air plane that skidded off the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) runway almost two weeks ago didn't respond to air traffic controllers a few minutes before it hard landed on the tarmac.

Jam Sisante's report on "24 Oras" aired a recording of the conversation between the Korean pilot and the air traffic controller, which showed that the aircraft no longer sent a message to the tower after it acknowledged clearance to land.

"Nung hinihintay nilang mag-touch down, hindi na po sumasagot. Expected po kasi natin kapag two minutes after na ibigay 'yung landing clearance, dapat lalapag na siya," Marlene Singson, chief of CAAP's Aerodrome Division, said at a Senate inquiry into the Xiamen Air mishap.

"Pero po noong time na 'yun, visually nawala siya, wala na rin pong radio contact," she added.

The accident caused the closure of the NAIA for some 36 hours, inconveniencing tens of thousands of passengers and causing billions of pesos in damages.

The audio recording was played during the Senate hearing.

"Xiamen Air 8667, wind 290 degrees, 11 knots, runway 24, cleared to land," the air traffic controller said.

"Runway 24, cleared to land, Xiamen Air 8667," Xiamen Air said.

After this exchange, the air traffic controller again called the pilot but there was no more response.

CAAP officials said the audio recording was still being investigated to determine its authenticity. The black box recording of the aircraft is still being examined in Singapore.

The agency is also conducting probe on whether the pilots have liability on the incident.

Xiamen Air, for its part, vowed to cooperate on the investigation of the incident: "Xiamen Airlines will cooperate fully with authorities conducting official incident investigation into the causes of this unfortunate incident."

Xiamen Air flight MF8667 skidded off Runway 06/24 around 11 p.m. on August 16 supposedly due to rain.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), a total of 135 flights were canceled following the unfortunate incident.

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said that the liability of Xiamen Air has now reached P33 million, noting that the agency is expecting that the airline company will make the payment “finally next week.” —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News