Xiamen Airlines Boeing B737 went off on runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that caused cancellation and delay of many flights. NAIA is the Philippines’ main hub for its airplane passengers.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) the plane, a Xiamen Airlines Boeing B737 “encountered runway excursion after landing” at 11:55 p.m. on Aug. 16. The said runway was closed “due to the disabled aircraft.”
None of the 157 passengers and 8 crew of flight MF8667 was seriously injured. There was a report though that four people suffered “superficial scratches”. But all were safe and was attended to by airport staff at NAIA’s Terminal 1. CAAP also said that the aircraft is now at a grassy area near the perimeter road in front of the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance-Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) antenna.
Agence France-Presse in its report said, “aircraft is still resting on its belly near the end of the airport’s main runway where it came to a stop after the accident,” adding that it has “forced a partial shutdown of the Philippines’ main airport Friday.”
With almost 24 hours after the accident, rescue crews were still unable to remove the plane, forcing the airport to cancel take-offs and landings from the largest of its two runways.
“A final extension of runway closure until 12 noon today is necessary to give way for the demobilization of heavy equipment used to lift the aircraft. Simultaneously, clearing the runway of debris and other foreign objects will also be done,” Monreal said in a statement. The airport general manager apologized for the inconvenience caused by the temporary runway closure to passengers.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said at least 67 local and international flights were canceled on Friday. He said that recovery efforts were being hampered by recent heavy rains that had softened the ground around the runway, making it difficult to lift the aircraft.