Tugade ‘deeply sorry’ for woes of Xiamen airline incident

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has repeatedly apologized to the public, especially to thousands of passengers, who were affected when a Xiamen aircraft skidded off the runway of the airport last August 16.

“Allow me to express my sincerest apology. I it was a regrettable incident that it’s not of our own liking as it is not of our own making,” Tugade said during the hearing of the Senate committee on public services on Wednesday.

“Be that as it may, I am deeply sorry for the inconveniences caused by the incident,” he said.

The official, in particular apologized to passengers who were looking forward to a fun weekend when that incident happened, especially to overseas Filipino workers, who missed their flights.

READ: Xiamen Air jet stuck at Naia runway; flights canceled, diverted

“From the bottom of my hear, my sincerest apologies,” Tugade stressed.

Lin Huagun, general manager of Xiamen, and other representatives of the airline were also present at the hearing initiated by the committee chair, Senator Grace Poe. /cbb