(FILE) Passengers wait for information about their flights at terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, Metro Manila on January 1, 2023. – Thousands of travelers were stranded at Philippine airports on January 1 after a “loss of communication” at the country’s busiest hub in Manila forced hundreds of flights to be canceled, delayed or diverted. (Photo by KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Thursday accepted full responsibility for the New Year’s Day air traffic management disaster.
CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo made the remark during the Senate committee on public services hearing on the fiasco.
READ: Senate starts probe into New Year’s Day air traffic control system fiasco
“On behalf of CAAP and DOTr (Department of Transportation), we again extend our sincerest apologies to all those who were inconvenienced and greatly affected by this circumstance which is something we’re not proud of,” Tamayo said during the hearing.
“We take this as a lesson, and we manifest to this honorable committee and fellow Filipinos that we take full responsibility and accountability for what happened,” he added.
The CAAP, Tamayo said, commits “to see through this ordeal, remain transparent in all our dealings and service to the Filipino in ensuring that our skies are safe.”
On January 1, CAAP’s air traffic system shut down following a power outage.
READ: Naia power outage, tech glitch shut PH airspace
The system failure affected at least 600 flights and stranded about 65,000 passengers whose flights were either diverted, canceled, or delayed.
Six senators have lodged separate resolutions seeking to investigate the air traffic turmoil.