Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will be closed from Sunday 11 pm to 12 midnight on October 25, after a Korean Airbus overshoot on its runway, Atty. Glenn Napuli, MCIA legal manager, announced in a Monday press conference.
Airport officials admitted that rain was heavy upon the plane’s arrival, as the pilot has an unclear vision of the runway.
All passengers are safe and went home to their respective destinations.
Napuli said the closure stopped six outgoing flights that night and arriving flights.
He advised airline companies to land either in Dumaguete or Panglao airport in Bohol for their incoming flights.
Passengers are now in the process of re-booking their flights.
Mary Ann Dimabayao, MCIA Public Affairs Office head, said the airport serves 156 flights daily, as there are 84 incoming flights and 72 outgoing flights.
Napuli said the Airbus 330 from Incheon, South Korea, Korean Air Flight No. 631 carries 162 passengers and 11 crew members.
Upon landing at 11:12 pm, Sunday the plane rolled 300 meters beyond the runway’s end, plowing mud and grasses until it struck landing light posts.
Florentino Galan Jr., Chief of Air Traffic Control, said the plane initially gave a distress call to the Approach control office. The control office then informed them of the emergency situation.
This enabled airport emergency officers to initiate high alert and emergency preparations even before the plane landed. Airport officials are working overtime to remove the overshoot plane and reopen runway 04, at least until Monday.
All airport officials agreed that as early as Monday afternoon if everything turns out well, they may start allowing outgoing flights of light planes.
And as late as Tuesday, will they allow other flights?
As early as Monday, officials also agreed to utilize a shortened runway, from 3.3 kilometers to 2.6 kilometers, said Atty. Jinky Zaragoza, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
This is to minimize the inconvenience brought by this overshoot plane.
Zaragoza is the legal officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
Airport officials are also one is saying, “Cause of the accident is still under investigation.” (PIO Lapu-Lapu City)
[…] According to Atty. Napuli, there were no significant damages to the runway and its lights, only the Approach lights and localizer at runway 04, were damaged after being hit by the overshot aircraft. […]
[…] man who opened the emergency door of an Asiana Airlines plane just before landing at an airport in South Korea has told police that he felt suffocated and wanted to get off the plane […]
[…] Llanto did not specify the date and frequency of the flights, but said they will coordinate with the local governments and the aviation authorities of both countries to ensure the safety and convenience of the passengers. […]