Passengers should exit planes in 90 seconds in case of fire - CAAP

Following the tragic aircraft collision in Japan, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Wednesday reiterated safety guidelines for aircraft in case of a fire emergency.

Among these is having fire extinguishers inside all aircraft, Tina Panganiban-Perez reported on “24 Oras”. 

“Walang actual na rules yan dahil iba-ibang sitwasyon naman kasi. But base na rin yan doon sa training ng mga crew, cockpit on how they will act,” said CAAP Spokesperson Eric Apolonio. 

(There are no actual rules because it will be based on situations and on the training of crew and cockpit members.)

“Unang-una, ilan ba yung kailangang buksan na emergency door in case of fire. Kailangan yung mga pasahero is dumapa. Kung mapansin mo, yung aisles, may ilaw yan. Doon sila gagapang. kasi ang usok nasa taas. Kung hindi ka bababa o luluhod, maaapektuhan yung breathing mo,” he said.

(First, they need to know where the emergency doors are in case of fire. Passengers should drop on the floor. If you noticed aisles have lights that will guide you when you crawl since the smoke goes up. If you don’t crouch or lower yourself, you will have more trouble breathing.)

Crew cabin members should also be able evacuate all passengers in just 90 seconds, he added.

“More than that, medyo magkakaroon ng problema na in case of fire sa loob ng cockpit ng aircraft,” said Apolonio.

(More than that, there will be problems in case of fire inside the cockpit.)

The CAAP chief advised passengers to refrain from pushing each other while leaving the aircraft, adding passengers who are sitting in the  front row should exit first.

Furthermore, Apolonio said they annually validate the safety procedures of airlines and that they have a team on standby in case of emergencies.

A Reuters report said all 379 passengers and crew of a Japan Airlines plane miraculously escaped from a fire following a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday, but local media said most of the crew of the coast guard plane crew perished.

The JCG  said the collision involved one of its planes that was headed to Niigata airport on Japan's west coast to deliver aid to the populace who were caught in a powerful earthquake that struck on New Year's Day, killing at least 48 people.

Five of the six crew members of the coast guard aircraft  died, public broadcaster NHK reported. A coast guard spokesperson earlier said five of the crew were unaccounted for but the captain managed to escape.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News