Tugade: Naia runway mishap an eye-opener for airport management

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. INQUIRER file photo / Junjie Mendoza

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Saturday described as an “eye-opener” the runway mishap that affected the normal operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

“This incident served as an eye-opener– a reminder for us to take a second look at the processes, procedures, and protocols of concerned agencies, as well as airlines, so that we may all improve in the future,” Tugade said in a statement.

He then apologized for the inconvenience caused to the people by the closure of 60/24 runway after a Xiamen Air jet skidded and went off during a heavy downpour on Thursday evening.

READ: Dozens of flights affected as plane skids off rain-soaked Naia runway

“It is a regrettable experience, which is not of our own liking, nor of our own making. I am sorry. We did our very best to address the situation,” he said.

“On behalf of the entire DOTr [Department of Transportation] family, I am deeply sorry,” Tugade added.

Runway 06/24 reopened for normal flight operations at 11:28 a.m. of Saturday, or after less than 24 hours of being closed.

READ: MIAA: Naia operations return to normal after 24-hour runway closure

On Saturday alone, airport authorities have monitored 70 local and international flights that were canceled due to the incident.

The cancelation of flights led more than a thousand of passengers got stuck at the airport terminal. /jpv