CEBU, Philippines — Five days after the Korean Air flight number KE 631 Airbus 330 overshot the 3.3-kilometer runway of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the aircraft remained stuck at the airport as of yesterday.
“Wala pa gyud nato ma-remove ang aircraft,” said Mary Ann Dimabayao, Public Affairs Office manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.
Dimabayao said the airport management will hold a press conference today to answer queries from the members of the press and to give updates about the incident.
At around 11 p.m. last October 23, the Korean Air that was carrying 173 persons (162 passengers and 11 crew members) overshot the runway.
All persons on board were all safe and were allowed to go home. No injury was reported.
After a temporary closure of the runway right after the incident, the airport’s operations resumed two days after, but the operating hours were limited to 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. These operating hours will remain for 14 days, until the aircraft is completely removed.
The MCIA, in its public advisory at around 12 p.m. yesterday, said the following flights were affected due to the limited operating hours: 5J 551 Manila-Cebu; PR 1845 Manila-Cebu; 5J 548 Singapore-Cebu; 5J 156 Cebu-Clark; PR 1836 Cebu-Manila; 5J 2510 Cebu-Manila; PR 2295 Cebu-Cagayan; DG 6206 Cebu-Legaspi; Z2 521 Cebu-Davao; 5J 552 Cebu-Manila; PR 2313 Cebu-Cagayan; and PR 1846 Cebu-Manila.
“All passengers are strongly advised to monitor their flights before proceeding to the airport and get in touch with their airlines for immediate assistance,” the MCIA statement read. — GAN (FREEMAN)