Pagasa raises red lightning alert; NAIA flight operations suspended

MANILA, Philippines — Flight and ground operations are suspended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised a red lightning alert warning Wednesday afternoon.

The red lightning alert was raised 2:26 p.m., the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) said in an advisory. 

“The alert will be lifted as soon as Pagasa deems it safe to continue operations,” Miaa said. 

Miaa earlier explained that the alert is a safety measure taken to prevent any untoward incident from happening when flashes of lightning are prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger personnel, passengers, and even flight operations.

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The red lightning alert, however, was lifted less than an hour later at 3:22 p.m.

As of writing, Miaa said operations at Naia have already resumed.

“Flight and ground operations at the Naia have resumed after the Philippine weather bureau has determined that the thunderstorm no longer poses a threat to operations,” Miaa said. /kga