Airport and aviation authorities temporarily closed a runway at the Mactan Cebu International Airport after a Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane veered off the runway on Friday morning.
No one was reported hurt in the incident.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said Flight PR-2369 experienced a runway excursion upon arrival at the airport in rainy weather at 11:39 a.m. after a flight from Caticlan.
She added all the 29 passengers and four crew members, including two pilots, “are safe and were able to disembark from the airplane using the aircraft’s airstairs.”
“Our operations teams are assisting the passengers and will provide assistance and support as needed,” said Villaluna in a statement.
Villaluna said the flight involved a De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop operated by PAL Express with registry number RP-C5911.
“The aircraft wheels veered off into the grass at the side edge of the runway. We thank airport authorities and the CAAP for spearheading the towing of the aircraft back into the runway surface,” she said.
“We affirm that safety is our top priority and that Philippine Airlines is fully cooperating with the concerned airport and aviation authorities. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the partial blockage of the runway,” she added.
