Xiamen Air’s data flight recorder will be sent to Singapore for analysis, the Civil Aviation of the Philippines (CAAP) said yesterday as it delves into the details of the mishap that caused a two-day pandemonium at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last week.

But Eric Apolonio, the CAAP, spokesman said that while they prefer to have the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) checked in Singapore, the procedure can take longer as the city state is also deluged with similar requests.

Another option will be Japan as Singapore entertains requests for CVR examinations on a “first come first serve basis.”

Apolonio also said aircraft investigators revisited the site where the Air Xiamen flight MF8667 skidded upon landing on 16 August during a bad weather. The incident paralyzed airport operations for 36 hours.

A CAAP source claimed initial investigation showed the pilot claiming he was temporarily blinded by the heavy rain.

But the same source said a recording of the conversation between the air traffic controller and the pilots indicated no distress message or anything unusual. The mishap took place at 11:55 p.m. or minutes after their last conversation at 11:30.

The pilots and crew of the Xiamen flight are still under investigation by the CAAP board of investigators. Drug and alcohol tests for the pilots yielded negative results.

“They can only leave the country after questioning from our Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board investigators,” Apolonio said.

The amount Xiamen Air may have to pay the government is unlikely to reach half a billion pesos, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said his office is still in the process of estimating costs and damage from the Xiamen mishap.

On Tuesday Monreal said initial costs could reach P15 million for manpower as well as the rental costs for the crane and other equipment used to remove the Xiamen aircraft from the runway.

Monreal, however, stressed he is not expecting the amount to go higher than P500 million.

Other airlines may file separate cases against Xiamen Air to recover their own losses due to the incident.

Meanwhile, almost P1 million was given away on Wednesday by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in cash assistance to the almost 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) stranded for days at the NAIA due to the Xiamen mishap.

DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato yesterday said that a total of 178 stranded OFW received P5,000 each in cash assistance from the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs.

Cato said that the DFA expects more OFW to avail of the cash assistance.

The DFA said that other affected overseas workers who were earlier able to depart Manila can still avail themselves of the cash assistance at the nearest Philippine Embassy or consulate offices.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said the DFA will continue to release financial assistance to affected overseas workers at the three airport terminals until 24 August and at the Home Office until 31 August.