Flight operations back to normal at Caticlan

ILOILO CITY – Flight operations returned to normal at Caticlan Airport in Malay, Aklan a day after a Zest Airways plane missed the runway on landing.

All of the plane’s 17 injured passengers, except Rowena Versoza, have been discharged from the hospital.

The 40-year-old Versoza from Quezon City, was airlifted yesterday because she preferred to be hospitalized in Metro Manila.

Zipporah Zabala, officer on duty at Caticlan Airport, told The STAR yesterday Versoza suffered a fracture on her left arm and clavicle, as well as soft tissue injuries on the elbow.

Hilario Cabugon from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, along with another investigator, has started looking into why Zest Airways flight RIT 865 undershot the runway on its second attempt to land on Sunday, Zabala said.

Zabala said there are still no initial findings as to the cause of the crash.

Zest Airways was conducting its own investigation into the incident, which caused the temporary closure of the airport Sunday, Zabala said.

The wreckage of the 56-seater plane remains at parking bay No. 1, Zabala said.

The Chinese-made MA60 turboprop was carrying 21 passengers and five crew from Metro Manila when it missed the runway on landing.

Vicente Gazo Jr. was assisted by co-pilot Jeffrey Lim at the time the plane crashed. – Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag, Rudy Santos