Jetstar plane veers off NAIA runway; all on board safe

(Eagle News)–A Jetstar Asia plane was stalled for hours at a Ninoy Aquino International Airport  runway early Saturday, Dec. 14, after it overshot a turn and veered off.

In a statement by the Manila International Airport Authority, runway 13-31 had to be closed for operations after the Airbus A320 jet made an excursion towards the Runway Safety Area while positioning for takeoff at 2:32 a.m.

According to the statement, Jetstar Asia flight GK40 bound for  Narita, Japan, was headed for Runway 13 at that time when it overshot the turn, causing its right and front gears to veer toward the RSA.

The plane’s front was left embedded in the soft ground.

All 140 (139 plus 1 infant) passengers and crew deplaned safely and were brought back to NAIA Terminal 1 by shuttle buses, the statement said.

MIAA said with the disabled aircraft blocking parts of the runway, Runway 13-31 is so far closed for operations.

As of 10 a.m., a total of eleven flights were delayed due to the incident.

Three Manila-bound flights were diverted to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga: Cebu Pacific flights 5J269 from Xiamen, 5J580 from Cebu,; and Air Asia flight Z2889 from Seoul.

All three flights are now in Manila.

Some affected flights are using the main runway, Runway 06-24 for the meantime.

“As of this time, the aircraft is now out of the grassy area and being prepared for towing to a nearby aircraft maintenance center. Simultaneous clearing of the runway and repair of damaged runway lights are now in progress. We hope to resume operations soon,” airport general manager Ed Monreal said.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Inquiry Board is now on site to determine the cause of the incident.