Cebu airport closed as PAL plane skids off runway

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight from Caticlan veered off into the grassy portion at the edge of the runway upon landing at the Mactan Cebu International Airport yesterday.

No one was reported injured in the incident, which involved a De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop operated by PAL Express.

The airport was closed at about 11:39 a.m., with the runway reopened at 2:38 p.m.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said 34 flights were affected by the incident. Two flights were rerouted to the Iloilo International Airport.

“We thank airport authorities and the CAAP for spearheading the towing of the aircraft back to the runway surface,” the flag carrier said.“We affirm that safety is our top priority and that Philippine Airlines is fully cooperating with concerned airport and aviation authorities.”

Meanwhile, a Cessna 206 aircraft of Aerohub with registry number RP-C979 crash-landed by the seashore in Barangay Tinaguiban in El Nido, Palawan at around 2:18 p.m. yesterday.

CAAP said the aircraft took off from the San Vicente airport at 1:06 p.m.

The plane, which had two passengers and a cargo of live fish, was on its way to the Sangley Airport in Cavite City when it suffered engine failure.

The pilot and crew have been rescued, according to initial information from Coast Guard authorities.

A team from CAAP Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board was dispatched to determine the cause of the accident. – Rudy Santos