Airlines Cancel Flights after NAIA Runway Shutdown; Closure Extends
Flights from several airlines going through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have been cancelled today, August 17, after a Chinese aircraft lands on the airport’s runway, due to torrential rainfall brought by the monsoon.
IMAGE Philstar
Among airlines who have announced their flight cancellations are Philippine Airlines with their Manila to Cebu, Cebu to Manila flights (PR 1845, PR 1846, PR 453, PR 454), Saudia Airlines with their Manila to Jeddah flight (SV 871), Hong Kong Airlines with Hong Kong to Manila flight (HX 781), Etihad Airways with Manila to Abu Dhabi (EY 421), Cathay Pacific flights from Manila to Hong Kong (CX 900, CX 906, CX 908, CX 912), China Airlines with Kaohsiung to Manila and Manila to Kaohsiung flights (CI 711 and CI 712), and Tiger Airways flights from Manila to Hong Kong and Hong Kong to Manila.
On the other hand, Pacific Airlines flights from San Francisco to Manila (PR 115) and Vancouver to Manila (PR 117) were diverted to Mactan Cebu International Airport.
Cebu Pacific, after expressing their concern for the closure of the airport’s main runway, listed down their cancelled flights from Manila to Hong Kong (5J 272 and 5J 110), Manila to Bangkok (5J 929), and Manila to Narita (5J 5054), as well as 2 cancelled Manila-bound flights from Singapore (5J 804) and Incheon (5J 187).
According to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the Xiamen Air flight MF 8667, which landed on the runway due to the downpour, had 157 passengers and 8 crews who were evacuated via emergency chutes and were ushered safely to NAIA Terminal 1, and later, to a hotel.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Aircraft Accident Bureau had already reached out to the Xiamen Airlines as the aircraft accident underwent probing by perusing the aircraft’s body which hard landed along the runway. CAAP also proceeded to clearing debris from the runway for the safety of the succeeding planes which will land after NAIA runway’s expected reopening at 5 in the morning on Saturday, August 18– an extension from the previous announcement of 12 noon and 7 pm on Friday.
Sources: GMA Network, ABS-CBN News, ABS-CBN on Cebu Pacific Flights, ABS-CBN on List of Flights, CNN Philippines
Featured Image grabbed from ABS-CBN News
