Van catches fire near airport

Motorists endured a traffic nightmare on roads leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial Terminal yesterday afternoon when a Kia Besta van that was about to enter a security checkpoint at the MIAA Road entrance suddenly caught fire and exploded.

The van (XFN-396) was being driven by 21-year-old Patrick Santos, a student of AMA Computer College and resident of BF Resort Village in Las Piñas City when smoke suddenly started billowing from the engine bay at the front seat.

Santos told MIAA probers that he decided to drive to the opposite lane and park the vehicle near the entrance of Nayong Pilipino.

After Santos’ passengers — his mother, sister, brother-in-law, 13-day-old niece — alighted from the vehicle, flames started to engulf the van. This was followed by a mild explosion.

Airport policemen manning the nearby checkpoint called for the MIAA Fire and Rescue Division.

Firefighters arrived at the scene after several minutes and doused the flames. It was learned that flames from the van had also burned the leaves of a coconut tree lining MIAA Road.

A monstrous traffic jam built up at the lane entering the MIAA Road checkpoint when drivers of other vehicles lining up to enter the airport slowed down to watch the spectacle of a burning van.

Santos told MIAA Airport Police Department probers that the van was loaned to his family by a friend so that they could fetch his father, an overseas Filipino worker arriving after a long stay in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.