The closure of one runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to remove a disabled plane was extended from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday.

“It is with deep regret that runway closure has to be extended until 0500H tomorrow, August 18, 2018. Recovery operations continue as of press time using two mobile cranes with a joint lifting capacity of more than what is required to lift the 43 tons disabled aircraft,” Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eddie V. Monreal and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco said Friday evening.

Monreal was referring to the Chinese airline Xiamen Air plane that skidded off a runway while landing in a downpour. All its 157 passengers and eight crew members evacuated safely through the emergency slides.

According to Monreal and Sydiongco, the mobilization process takes three hours and another three hours to demobilize with the aircraft recovery happening in between.

“Among others, soil condition, wind speed and lightning alerts are major considerations during mobilization and actual lifting of the aircraft,” they said.

Monreal has been personally directing recovery operations since midnight Friday together with Sydiongco.

The two officials also apologized for the great inconvenience the incident has caused to the air riding public.

“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.

Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is closely monitoring the progress of recovery operations and has expressed confidence in the capability of Monreal and Sydiongco in carrying out their duties.

Meanwhile, MIAA advised passengers of affected flights to closely coordinate with their airlines for announcements.

Monreal sought the support of the airlines to keep their passengers informed about their respective flight schedules.

Passengers may also check status of their flights with NAIA flight information at these numbers:

The riding public can also visit the MIAA official Facebook page and Twitter account

The following are the affected flights in NAIA due to the closure of Runway 24 as of 1320H:

PR 105 SAN FRANCISCO – MNL – DIVERTED TO CEBU

PR 103 LOS ANGELES – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK

PR 117 VANCOUVER – MNL – DIVERTED TO CEBU

PR 115 SAN FRANCISCO – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK

PR 119 TORONTO – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK

5J 187 Seoul Incheon – MNL – DIVERTED TO CLARK

Reinstated as per Cathay Pacific Airways are:

The passengers and crew of Xiamen Air Flight 8667 were taken to an airport terminal, where they were given blankets and food before being taken to a hotel, Philippine officials said.

“We have no reports yet of injuries, but the passengers were all drenched,” said Eric Apolonio, a spokesman of the CAAP.

The Boeing 737 aircraft veered off the runway around midnight Thursday into a grassy area, Apolonio said. He cited an initial report that the plane appeared to have “bounced” during the landing then its lights went out.

One of the plane’s two engines appeared to have been damaged, another airport official said. The flight had originated in Xiamen, a port city in Fujian province on the southeast coast along the Taiwan Strait.

The Manila airport’s international runway was expected to be closed until about noon Friday, officials said.

Torrential monsoon rains enhanced by a tropical storm flooded many low-lying areas of Manila and northern provinces last weekend, displacing thousands of residents and forcing officials to shut schools and government offices. The weather has improved with sporadic downpours. (with AP)