Cebu Pacific says extraction of disabled plane from runway edge continuing

OFF RUNWAY This Airbus A-320 of Cebu Pacific Air landed on a grassy area off the runway of Davao International Airport in Davao City. All 165 passengers, including two pilots and four flight attendants, were evacuated safely. BING GONZALES/INQUIRER MINDANAO

MANILA, Philippines—Cebu Pacific management said Tuesday it is continuing to extract a disabled A-320 plane from the edge of the runway of the Davao International Airport.

In a statement issued on its Facebook account past 3 p.m., Cebu Pacific said the plane’s nose landing gear has been lifted from the ground and secured on a flatbed truck.

The airline company also said steel plates had been placed under the main (rear) landing gear as a team composed of engineering and maintenance personnel and experts from Singapore Airlines Engineering Company went to work for the extraction of the A-320 plane.

“These measures are international practices and should enable us to tow the aircraft so runway operations can resume,” the notice said.

Fifteen extra flights to General Santos were also arranged to re-accommodate affected passengers.

It also said passengers have other options like rebooking, full refund and full travel fund. Meals, transfers and hotel accommodations were also provided.

“Those who still need re-accommodation may call (02)7020-888 or (032)230-8888,” it said.

CAAP earlier gave Cebu Pacific until 3 p.m. to remove the aircraft from the airport’s runway or the government takes over the extraction process.

The A-320 plane overshot the runway and made a stop at its edge during its landing at the airport Sunday evening after the pilots argued that they weren’t able to see the runway lights following heavy rains over Davao.

No one was injured, but flights to and from the Davao airport was suspended.

CAAP Deputy Director General John Andrews earlier said in a press conference that the cause of the incident may have been human error.