Adverse weather conditions over Pampanga on Saturday have emerged as the key factor behind the diversion of Philippine Airlines Flight PR2679, with the incident highlighting the importance of safety procedures and trained flight response during challenging flying conditions.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) said in a statement that the flight from Busuanga to Clark encountered windshear during its final approach to Clark International Airport on 23 May 2026, prompting pilots to carry out a standard missed approach procedure in line with established safety protocols.

The weather conditions in the Clark area made landing difficult, leading the flight crew to make what PAL described as a prudent decision to divert the aircraft to Manila instead.

Despite online discussions surrounding the flight's movements, PAL stressed that the aircraft remained under control throughout the incident and that the maneuvers performed by the pilots were consistent with established windshear avoidance and recovery procedures.

“The crew remained in full control of the aircraft at all times,” the airline said, adding that the aircraft’s rates of ascent and descent were in line with procedures required under the prevailing weather conditions.

The airline also cautioned against relying solely on publicly available flight tracking data, saying such information does not provide a complete picture of aircraft performance or actual flight conditions experienced during the incident.

The aircraft later landed safely in Manila, where passengers were assisted accordingly.

PAL said it is conducting a review of the incident as part of normal operational protocol, with results to be submitted to the appropriate authorities.

The incident also drew attention to the role of pilot training and standard aviation procedures during adverse weather conditions. Windshear, which involves sudden shifts in wind speed or direction, can create challenging landing conditions and requires pilots to respond quickly based on established safety protocols.

PAL reiterated that safety remains its highest priority, emphasizing that pilots are trained to make the most appropriate operational decisions whenever weather conditions are not conducive for landing.