No injuries reported in Saudia-PAL aircraft incident at NAIA
MANILA – The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) on Wednesday said no injuries were reported and airport operations were not significantly affected when a taxiing Saudia aircraft struck the tail section of a parked Philippine Airlines (PAL) aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) late Tuesday.
All passengers aboard the subsequently canceled Saudia Flight SV871 have safely disembarked, the airport operator said.
PAL, for its part, said no passengers or crew members were onboard at the time of the incident.
Initial reports indicated that the wingtip of the Saudia aircraft, which was taxiing for departure, struck the tail section of the parked PAL Airbus A320 at low speed. Both aircraft sustained damage and are currently undergoing technical assessment.
No airport infrastructure or ground equipment was damaged, according to the NNIC.
Meanwhile, the NNIC said a full investigation is now being conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including a review of airside communications, aircraft movement records and other relevant operational data.
Additionally, the NNIC is extending its full cooperation to the two airlines and aviation authorities to ensure a thorough and objective review. /gsg
