NAIA operations resume after Japan-bound plane got stuck on runway
MANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 3:55 p.m.) — The daily grind of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will continue after a Jetstar plane bound for Japan failed to take flight and got stuck on the runway, leaving it non-operational on Saturday morning.
Runway 13/31, which was closed off for several hours due to the said plane, resumed operations at around 11 a.m., according to the Manila International Airport Authority.
Passengers on early Saturday morning reported smelling gas after the Jetstar plane started to take off but crashed down suddenly.
“Paakyat na bwelo na bumagsak...Palipad na kami biglang tumagilid airplane namin. Ngayon amoy gas na. Safe pa ba kami dito?” Maryjoyce Calzado Astejada, who was onboard the plane, posted on social media.
(The airplane started to take off but careened down all of a sudden. Now it smells of gas. Are we still safe here?)
“All 140 (139 plus 1 infant) passengers and crew deplaned safely and were brought back to NAIA Terminal 1 by shuttle buses,” the NAIA said in a statement.
“Jetstar Asia flight GK40 from Manila to Narita, Japan, pushed back from the NAIA Terminal 1 at 2:08 a.m. and headed for Runway 13 for takeoff. While positioning for takeoff, the aircraft overshot the turn causing the front and right landing gears to veer towards the RSA leaving the front to get imbedded in the soft ground.”
While affected flights were redirected to the airport’s main Runway 6/24, clearing operations were conducted to remove the Jetstar plane.
At least seven flights were canceled and another 11 delayed due to the incident.
Jetstar has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.
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