C-130 loaded with relief goods slides off Ormoc runway

MANILA, Philippines - A C-130 plane loaded with relief goods slid off the runway of the Ormoc City airport in Leyte yesterday afternoon.

The plane, with six crewmen onboard, came from the Mactan International Airport in Cebu to deliver relief goods for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Ormoc, according to Col. Miguel Okol, spokesman for the Philippine Air Force.

Okol denied earlier reports that the plane overshot the runway, saying its right landing gear merely slid off as it was taxiing toward the terminal.

“Overshoot means the plane went off the runway, which is not true,” he said.

Okol said the pilot ordered the cargo unloaded as the crewmen and some airport workers set up a ramp to tow the plane.

“The crewmen were able to tow the plane to the tarmac where it was inspected,” Okol said, adding that no significant damage was found.

Meanwhile, PAL Express and Cebu Pacific Air mounted one Manila-Tacloban-Manila flight each using Airbus A320 aircraft yesterday. Both carriers would also have a flight each today.

Flights between Cebu and Tacloban will continue using turbo prop aircraft, which can accommodate 72 passengers.

The Airbus 320 can accommodate up to 180 passengers.

PAL Express flight 2P971 departs Manila for Tacloban at noon and returns at 3:10 p.m. of the same day.

Cebu Pacific’s first Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu flight was reserved for passengers affected by the flight cancellation due to Yolanda.

Cebu Pacific’s passengers for domestic and international flights from Nov. 7 to 15, going to or from the Visayas, Bicol, Palawan, Mindoro and select Mindanao destinations can rebook or reroute their flights without penalty, or get a full refund.