By Jojo Due | Correspondent
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga—At least 28 domestic and international flights from various carriers were diverted to the Clark International Airport here, after the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) suffered a five-inch-deep crack on Monday.
The diverted flights started arriving at the Clark airport at around 9 a.m., after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) on the repair of a damaged portion of the Naia’s Runway 06-24.
Later in the day, the Naia runway was declared closed to all air traffic to make way for emergency repairs, prompting airport authorities to divert flights to the Clark airport.
Diverted were two Airphil, two AirAsia Zest, seven Philippine Airlines (PAL); eight Cebu Pacific and two Saudia flights, and one each for Asian Aerospace, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Oman Air and Air Juan.
The Naia runway was declared open to air traffic at 10:45 p.m. following the completion of the repair. The flights diverted to Clark started flying to the Naia early Tuesday morning.
During the closure of the Manila airport runway for repairs, several diverted airlines opted to have their passengers disembark at Clark, as their passengers have been waiting for hours.
The Clark International Airport Corp. (Ciac) Airport Operations Department (AOD) said that a total of 3,043 passengers disembarked at the Clark airport.
Passengers deplaned
AIRLINES that deplaned passengers include PAL Flight PR 454P from General Santos, with 328 passengers; Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 568 from Cebu, with eight passengers disembarking; Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 6114 from Naga with 72 individuals and one infant; Emirates Flight EK 332 from Dubai, which deplaned 428 passengers; Cebu Pacific 5J 964 from Davao, with 361 passengers deplaning; Etihad 424 from Abu Dhabi, with 380 passengers; Cebu Pacific 5J 741 from Riyadh, with 381; Qatar Airways Flight QR 932 from Doha, with 430 passengers; Oman Air Flight 843, with 237 passengers; and Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 19 from Kuwait, with 416 passengers and one infant deplaning.
The concerned airlines provided their deplaned passengers with transportation and food. They were later bused to Metro Manila.
Emigdio Tanjuatco III, Ciac president and CEO, along with other airport executives, was on hand at the Clark airport passenger terminal the whole night of Monday, overseeing the operation, coordinating with airlines and assisting the passengers with their needs.
“We understand the predicament of the passengers. We did our best to give attention to their concerns, and provided them with utmost care,” Tanjuatco added.
He pointed out that, despite the diversion and the disembarking of thousands of passengers from the diverted flights on Monday, the situation at Clark was normal, as passengers for the regular flights of the Clark International Airport made their way to the departure area.
Probe
AN investigation is underway to determine the culpability for the accident caused by loose asphalt that struck the wings of a Boeing 747 on Monday.
An Eva Air B747 from Seoul sustained major damage when slabs of loose asphalt struck its wing flaps during landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12 noon on Monday.
The aircraft sustained several holes on the flaps. Nobody was hurt in the incident, and the airplane was later towed to the Lufthansa Technique Philippines hangar for extensive repairs.
On Monday evening the Manila International Airport Authority announced the emergency closure of Runway 06-24 “due to small asphalt cracks on the runway that could damage aircraft using it.”
Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal said the runway was temporary closed to avoid untoward incidents.
He said the crack grew bigger owing to continued aircraft movements.
“The crack in the asphalt overlay of the runway is five inches deep, one meter wide, and nine meters long,” Monreal said, adding that a bigger area of four meters by 19 meters will undergo construction.
(With Recto Mercene and Ashley Manabat)
Image credits: Jojo due