PLANE ACCIDENT. The Korean Air aircraft from Incheon, South Korea that overran the runway of Mactan-Cebu International Airport late Sunday (Oct. 23, 2022). None of the passengers and crew were hurt in the incident. (Courtesy of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines)
MANILA – All 162 passengers and 11 crew of a Korean Air from Incheon are reported safe after the plane overran the runway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) late Sunday.
"There were no injuries and all passengers safely evacuated the aircraft," Korean Air said in an email on Monday.
Flight KE 631 was expected to arrive in Cebu at 10 p.m., and attempted to land twice amid the bad weather.
On the third attempt, the A330-300 aircraft arrived at 11:07 p.m. but overran the runway.
"We are currently identifying the cause of the incident," the airline said.
It added that passengers were escorted to three local hotels, and an alternative flight was being arranged.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Korean Air Co. Ltd. president Woo Gi-Hong extended an apology and thanked those who responded to the incident.
“A thorough investigation will be performed together with the local aviation authorities and Korean authorities to determine the cause(s) of this event,” Woo said.
He assured that the airline will always prioritize safety in all its operations and expressed regret for the inconvenience the incident caused.
Meanwhile, the runway has been closed due to aircraft obstruction.
The Manila International Airport Authority has so far logged 16 canceled flights between Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Cebu.
These flights are Cebu Pacific (5J) 563/564 Manila-Cebu-Manila
5J 2510 Cebu – Manila
5J 565/566 Manila – Cebu - Manila
5J 571/572 Manila – Cebu - Manila
5J 567/568 Manila – Cebu - Manila
5J 577/578 Manila – Cebu - Manila
Philippine Airlines (PR) 1868 Cebu-Manila
PR 1868 Cebu-Manila
PR 1841/1842 Manila-Cebu-Manila
PR 1836 Cebu-Manila
PR 1869 Manila-Cebu
AirAsia Philippines also reported the following affected flights:
Z2 780 - Cebu-Manila
Z2 781 - Manila-Cebu
Z2 775 - Manila-Cebu
Z2 776 - Cebu-Manila
Z2 550 - Cebu-Caticlan
Z2 551 - Caticlan-Cebu
Both PAL and Cebu Pacific announced that affected passengers may rebook or refund their tickets, or convert the ticket into a travel voucher or travel fund.
AirAsia said travelers may also move their flight within 30 days from the original flight schedule, or retain the value of flight booking in a credit account.
Assistance
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has provided assistance to the stranded passengers.
Likewise, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by flight cancellations will be assisted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
In a statement Monday, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the DOT's Central Visayas office is in coordination with the MCIA, Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation.
The regional office reported that there are 112 foreign nationals, 32 returning Filipinos, and 18 OFWs affected.
“The DOT has been assured by the Korean Air officials that all tourists involved in the incident have been accounted for and are currently billeted at a nearby hotel,” Frasco said.
Some 530 stranded outbound international passengers have been accommodated in hotels shouldered by the concerned airlines.
The DOT was informed that many of the tourists opted to maximize their extended stay by continuing tours of Cebu, including the island of Mactan, pending the resumption of flights.
In a Twitter post also on Monday, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said she has directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and overseas posts to give the necessary assistance to "OFWs who may be affected, especially with flight cancellations."
"Per @OWWAofficial, there were two seafarers onboard the plane that overshot the runway. Both OFWs are okay,” read Ople's tweet.
OWWA has fielded a team to help stranded OFWs and all overseas posts have been directed to do the same in their areas of operation, Ople added.
Administrator Arnell Ignacio announced on Facebook that OWWA is on full alert status.
"Lapit agad sa OWWA help desk para kayo ay mabigyan ng assistance sa food and hotel if needed. Kailangan kilos agad dahil si Sec. Toots [Ople] eh kagabi pa nag-aalala (Just approach OWWA help desks so you will be given food or hotel assistance if needed. We need to move quickly because Sec. Toots has been worried since last night)," he said in his post. (With a report from Wilnard Bacelonia/PNA)
