Cebu airport assists stranded passengers

All international and domestic flights to and from the Mactan Cebu International Airport temporarily resumed on Monday afternoon, less than a day after a plane carrying 162 passengers and 11 crew overshot the runway.

The GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, the private operator of the MCIA, said runway operations resumed from 4 to 6 p.m. only to decongest stranded passengers in the airport.

The resumption was coordinated with the Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

Airlines for departures were mandated to be in touch with their passengers for the necessary pre-departure and check-in procedures.

Meanwhile, all passengers were advised to monitor their flights before proceeding to the airport and coordinate with their respective airlines for the status of their flights.

Late Sunday night, Korean Air flight no. KE631 overshot the runway during heavy rains. The incident, according to the airport management, happened at 11 p.m.

The runway was temporarily closed for the safe removal of the aircraft.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air both announced cancellations of flights due to the incident.

"No one was hurt during the incident. All 162 passengers and 11 crew onboard the A330 aircraft were immediately evacuated and tended to by airport emergency personnel," the Cebu airport management said on Monday morning.

In a separate statement, Korean Air president Keehong Woo apologized for the incident.

"While the party is doing its best to ensure that passengers are safe and comfortable without any inconvenience, we will make all efforts to ensure the situation is resolved as early as possible," he said.

Woo added that the airline coordinated with local authorities.

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