A warning of widespread flight disruption has been issued for the Philippines after an aircraft veered off a rain-soaked runway on landing at Manila airport.
The incident involving a Xiamen Air Boeing 737 triggered a Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel alert early this morning.
“Ninoy Aquino International airport (NAIA) in Manila is experiencing flight disruption due to an incident late on 16 August,” the FCO said.
“You should check with your airline if you are due to travel. NAIA flight information is available on their Hotline +63 (0) 2877 1111. “
No casualties among all 157 passengers and eight crew on the Boeing 737-800 were reported but the overshoot juts before midnight local time caused widespread flight disruption.
Images of the aircraft operated by Xiamen Air, a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, showed it next to a perimeter fence with the left wing touching the ground, Reuters reported.
The aircraft “misapproached” on its first attempt to land, lost contact with the control tower on the second attempt and skidded upon touchdown, said Ed Monreal, the airport’s general manager.
“Our priority now is to reopen the airport runway immediately but we are not rushing because we value the safety and security of all the people,” he told a news conference.
Flights from the Middle East and the US were diverted to the international airport at Clark, north of Manila, and the central island of Cebu.
There were chaotic scenes at the main airport in Manila, which was packed with passengers, with long queues outside the terminals and at check-in desks.
Manila airport authorities extended the closure of one of the runways to 4.00pm from 12.00pm local time, saying they needed more time to move the aircraft.