CAAP report on Cebu Pacific runway incident out in 30 days
By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo
THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said it might be able to release within 30 days the findings of its investigation on the runway incident involving a Cebu Pacific aircraft last Friday, Aug. 4, at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
“…After 30 days we can come up with the result [of the investigation], so we can determine whether it was a pilot error or an accident,” Eric B. Apolonio, spokesperson of CAAP, told BusinessWorld via telephone interview. Mr. Apolonio also said that they began looking at the incident during the night of the occurrence.
The nose wheel, or front landing gear, of the aircraft used for Flight 5J570 bound for Manila shot out of the paved surface of the MCIA at about 6:35 p.m. during a 180-degree turn while taxying prior to take off.
Mr. Apolonio said their investigation will be based on the conversations recorded in the flight recorder, or the black box, of the aircraft. The black box recording will then be sent to Singapore for verification.
Mr. Apolonio also said that Cebu Pacific has been cooperating with CAAP since the night of the incident.
“…The night of the incident, Cebu Pacific sent us a letter, explaining the event is under control… [They were also] saying sorry,” Mr. Apolonio added.
Cebu Pacific, for its part, said on Friday that they were “coordinating and cooperating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for an investigation regarding the incident, as we take the safety of our passengers very seriously.”
In a statement, Cebu Pacific said all 435 passengers affected, including three infants, were deplaned then accommodated on five succeeding Cebu Pacific flights, and an additional flight mounted, which carried the remaining passengers. The airline also said that all the passengers safely returned to Manila as of 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5.
Passengers of all affected flights were provided with meals, refreshments and travel vouchers, the budget airline said.
Cebu Pacific also gave assurance that “the aircraft that figured in the incident will be subjected to thorough inspection before it is used again for passenger service.”
