Cebu Pacific flight delayed over engine concerns

CEBU City, Philippines—A Cebu Pacific plane bound for Iloilo, which aborted its takeoff at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City late Sunday afternoon due to an unspecified engine trouble, was ready for takeoff at past 7 p.m.

Flight 5J 170 was originally scheduled to depart for Iloilo City at 5:50 p.m. with 54 passengers, including this correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and four crew members on board.

The aircraft flight was delayed for an hour but was ready for takeoff at around 7:15 p.m. Sunday.  The same aircraft was used.

Earlier in the afternoon, the plane was already accelerating on the runway and was about to take off when it suddenly decelerated.

The plane captain shortly announced that he had aborted the takeoff due to engine problems. He did not give details.

The plane went back to the boarding area and the passengers were told to get off the plane because, the pilot said, mechanics would have to check the engines.

Cebu Pacific crew, however, said the flight had not been cancelled but they had yet to announce the new flight schedule.