LOOK: Thousands stranded due to NAIA runway closure

Aika Rey

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LOOK: Thousands stranded due to NAIA runway closure
A total of 133 flights are canceled in all 4 terminals while 10 are diverted to Clark, Cebu, Bangkok in Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday, August 17, after a plane mishap that prompted the temporary closure of the runway.

After Xiamen Air flight MF8667 skidded on the NAIA runway late Thursday night, August 16,  airport and aviation officials tried to remove the plane throughout Friday.

The 12 noon target resumption of airport operations was moved to 4 pm, then 7 pm. At 6 pm, officials further delayed the reopening of the runway to 5 am on Saturday, August 18.

A total of 133 flights were canceled in all 4 terminals while 10 were diverted to Clark, Cebu, Bangkok in Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. (LIST: Canceled flights over NAIA airport mishap, August 17-18)

STUCK. Passengers wait for the status of their flights at NAIA Terminal 1 on August 17, 2018. Photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler

Because of the cancelations, passengers were advised by airlines to rebook their flights for free online, and to refrain from going to the airport.

More than 2,000 passengers whose flights were diverted to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga were transported to Manila by buses.

AIRPORT SHUTTLE. Passengers of diverted flights to the Clark International Airport queue for buses that would take them to NAIA in Pasay City on August 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of CIAC - Corporate Communications Office

DELAYED. Passengers wait at the departure gate of Iloilo International Airport on August 17, 2018 for their delayed flights. Photo by KD Montenegro

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) earlier said it was using a telescopic boom crane to lift the  aircraft.

“While this is a positive development, mobilization process takes 3 hours and another 3 hours to demobilize. Aircraft recovery will happen in between,” MIAA said in a statement late Friday.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal apologized to the public for the inconvenience the incident has caused.

“We offer no excuses just a promise to bring NAIA flight operations back to normalcy by tomorrow using all our internal resources and if needed, employ outside resources notwithstanding the cost it will entail to MIAA,” Monreal said. – Rappler.com

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Aika Rey

Aika Rey is a business reporter for Rappler. She covered the Senate of the Philippines before fully diving into numbers and companies. Got tips? Find her on Twitter at @reyaika or shoot her an email at aika.rey@rappler.com.