Mactan Emergency landing : Russian plane knocks down approach lights

CEBU CITY — A Russian commercial jet nearly crashed at the Mactan Cebu International Airport Wednesday night, knocking down at least 19 approach lights before landing safely on the runway.

The AJT Air International Ilyushin Il-86 was carrying 286 passengers and 27 crew members from Vladivostok and was on its way to Melbourne, Australia when it called in for an emergency landing.

It landed on Mactan shortly before midnight Wednesday and took off without further incident at 3:33 a.m. No one was reported hurt.

Sources at the Visayas Allied Services Corp., a local ground handling company, said the plane experienced technical problems.

Another source from a fuel firm which services the airport, confirmed the nature of the emergency, saying the plane suffered fuel deficiency.

Airport manager Alfonso Alerre, inspecting the extent of damage to the runway, said, "The airplane was very lucky it still managed to take off despite hitting the steel approach lights."

He said there should have been some damage to the aircraft’s fuselage because of the steel bars on which the approach lights were mounted.

Aside from the approach lights, the aircraft also destroyed a localizer antenna owned by the Air Transportation Office when it took off.

The approach lights guide arriving and departing aircraft while the localizer antenna checks the alignment of approaching aircraft for landing.

Bert Segovia, ATO flight services station chief, said the Russian plane’s captain provided only scant details.

The captain did not even give his full name, identifying himself only by what sounded like "Captain Chrage." - Freeman News Service