Thick haze stalls flights at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - At least 35 domestic and international flights that were supposed to land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were diverted yesterday due to poor visibility.

Airport officials said a thick haze had caused poor visibility around NAIA that forced the diversion of the flights to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Pampanga and to airports in Cebu and Iloilo.

Some foreign and domestic airlines were able to land at NAIA at noon using the Required Area Navigational System (RNAV) as landing aid.

“Those not able to land were either not equipped with the Flight Management System (FMS) that is compatible with the RNAV or they are not yet familiar with the new approach procedures,” said Willy Borja, chief of Air Traffic Services.

The flights diverted to the DMIA included KLM 803 from Amsterdam, China Airlines 711 from Taipei, Jetstar 561 from Hong Kong and Singapore, Philippine Airlines PR 659 from Riyadh, Continental Airlines 891 from Hawaii, Qatar 648 from Qatar, Korean Airlines 621 from Seoul, and Gulf Air 154 from Dubai. These were told to return to Manila after the skies cleared up at noon.

Four other international flights delayed their arrival for an hour until the weather conditions improved to allow a safe landing. These were two Cathay Pacific flights from Hong Kong, Asiana Airlines from Inchon, and Brunei Airlines from Brunei.

Twenty-five domestic flights were also diverted to Clark, among them 10 from Cebu Pacific, 10 from PAL, and five from Zest Air.

Lito Casaul of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the poor visibility at NAIA was caused by thick haze close to the runway, which made it difficult for the pilots to land.

The smog engulfed Metro Manila from daybreak and dissipated around noon. It was caused by a high-pressure weather system that restricted surface air movement, weather forecaster Hannah Grace Cristi said.

“This is not normal. Usually this happens only during Christmas time,” Christi said.

The trapped surface air was thick with smoke, moisture and pollution from Metro Manila, sharply reducing visibility, she said.

Airport weather forecaster Maritet Martinez also blamed the air pollution in Metro Manila caused by the exhaust of vehicles for the thick smog at the NAIA.

She said the smog was so thick that it reduced visibility at the NAIA to only four kilometers, less than the minimum of five kilometers.

Earlier, the reported breakdown of the Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range (VOR) equipment at NAIA on June 19 led to the cancellation of 50 flights, stranding thousands of passengers.

The VOR is used to guide airplanes on takeoff and landing at NAIA.

CAAP chief Alfonso Cusi said the VOR remains in and out of service since technicians are still testing the equipment.

Several lawmakers were among the passengers that were stranded yesterday, including Sen. Franklin Drilon and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone.

Evardone said he and Drilon arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 around 7:30 a.m.

Evardone said he was going home to his province, while Drilon was going to Bacolod City to attend some local officials’ oath taking.

Evardone said they were informed that their flights could not take off because of poor visibility and the airport’s navigational equipment was not working well.

“We waited for our flights until 1:30 in the afternoon, but no planes were allowed to take off, and no one could sufficiently explain what was happening. I decided to postpone my trip,” he said.

Evardone said he left Terminal 2 with Drilon still there at the PAL lounge, eating lugaw (porridge).

“I think he (Drilon) was so angry at the situation and helplessness of those supposed to fix the problem that he got hungry,” Evardone said.

“Our airport is becoming a national and international embarrassment. Some people must be sabotaging the administration of President Aquino. That’s why Sen. Drilon was so angry,” he added.

Evardone said he recognized other fellow lawmakers at the airport.

The airport is under the control and supervision of the CAAP, whose boss, former airport manager Cusi, has been appointed to a four-year fixed term by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It is not clear if the CAAP is attached to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) or the Office of the President. It has a budget of about P6 billion this year. - With Ding Cervantes, Jess Diaz