Light plane makes emergency landing at NAIA

FILE PHOTO

MANILA—A light plane bound for Sangley Point in Cavite was forced to make an emergency landing on one of the runways of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday afternoon after its landing gear malfunctioned.

Carlos Mundo, acting supervisor of the Manila Control Tower, said the landing gear of the  Beechcraft malfunctioned, prompting its pilot Sherwin Rala and co-pilot Roñela Acuña to radio the tower for an emergency landing at the NAIA Runway 13/31 past 4 p.m.

The plane, which was carrying fish products, came from Busuanga in Palawan and was supposed to land in Sangley Point.

“It was able to safely land at 4:30 p.m. The two pilots on board are also safe,” Mundo said in a telephone interview.

Mundo explained that even without the landing gear, the aircraft was able to do  a “belly landing”  using its belly as the primary landing device.

The Manila International Airport Authority said while the aircraft recovery and clearing operations were under way, flight operations at the affected runway were temporarily suspended.