A series of delayed flights was experienced in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday (August 17) after a Chinese passenger jet crash-landed on the runway due to torrential rain on Thursday night (August 16). All 165 passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, as shared in a report by The National.
Due to this event, Philippine aviation officials decided to close off the airport’s main runway until 4:00 pm Friday. This development had forced several airlines to delay, cancel, or reroute flights.
A XiamenAir Boeing 737-800 series passenger aircraft, operating as flight MF8667 from Xiamen to Manila, skidded off the runway while attempting to land in bad weather at the Manila international airport. ? by AFP’s Ted Aljibe pic.twitter.com/65dixsiqUu
— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 17, 2018
Airplane Skids Off Runway, Delays Flights in Manila
The Xiamen Air flight MF8667, which had 157 passengers along with its eight-man crew on board, landed on its second attempt before skidding off the grass, which had caused the aircraft’s left engine to be ripped off in the process late Thursday evening.
LOOK | Passenger plane that skidded off the NAIA runway https://t.co/452sHgpBxf
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) August 17, 2018
The General Manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Ed Monreal, shared that only four people sustained “superficial scratches” as they evacuated the Boeing 737-800 jet, which had flown from Xiamen in south-east China to the Philippine capital.
All of the passengers of Xiamen Air flight MF8667 were transferred to a nearby hotel and are to stay there until flight operations of the Chinese flight carrier resume, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
Thousands stranded in Manila airport. Here’s a Tweet from Philippine Star:
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway was temporarily closed while airport officials monitored its conditions for planes after a Xiamen Airlines flight slid off the runway late Thursday evening. It reopened past 11 a.m. Saturday.https://t.co/aSRiXJEWuw pic.twitter.com/cVy8hCOJFD
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) August 18, 2018
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio explained that the incident had occurred in heavy rain, and that all flight passengers, including the crew had to use an emergency chute to vacate the aircraft.
A report by Chinese state news agency Xinhua revealed that the plane had circled the airport for about an hour before initiating its first landing attempt.
Meanwhile, a runway for smaller aircraft was kept open; however, authorities reported that the incident had already delayed thousands of passengers, including those who are bound to spend the holidays overseas ahead of the long weekend.
Here is a short video clip posted by The National on the incident:
It’s good that no one got badly injured during the incident. And while this is considered as one of those unforeseen incidents that happen on a daily basis, it’s also wise for us to plan our travels accordingly, putting into consideration weather forecasts on the dates of our intended flight travels.