Philippines' Zambo Int'l Airport Shuts After Plane Incident

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 3 Asia Pulse - The Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) was temporarily closed to air traffic on Wednesday after a plane of the Cebu-Pacific Air coming from Davao City was stranded at Runway 29 when its two right landing gear exploded while touching down at around 9:30 a.m.

Air Transportation Office (ATO) Manager Celso Bayabos said they immediately issued a notice dubbed as Notice to all Airman (NOTAM) about the closure to air traffic at ZIA after the Cebu-Pacific ground crew failed to remove the plane from the runway as they don't have the adequate equipment. Bayabos said they have to wait for the rescue team from the Cebu-Pacific main office who has the complete equipment to remove the plane from Runway 29.

He said the problem is that the rescue team could not land at ZIA as they will be using a Lear Jet to be able to carry the rescue equipment.

"I suggested to them to fly in via Dipolog City and then either ask the assistance of the Air Force to ferry them to Zamboanga by helicopters or hire vehicles to travel by land in bring here the equipment, Bayabos said citing that it is the fastest way for them to come here."

He said that all of the 96 passengers of Cebu-Pacific Air who came Davao from were safely fetched by land transportation as they disembarked at Runway 29.

Due to the incident, all outgoing and incoming flights were cancelled, according to Bayabos.

Affected were: the 10 a.m. incoming flight of Seair from Jolo, Sulu; 11 a.m. Cebu-Pacific flight from this city to Manila; the incoming Air Philippines flight at 3:30 p.m. from Manila; and incoming Philippine Airlines flight at 4:30 p.m. from Manila.

Bayabos said that the pilots of the Seair plane that was about to land in this city when the incident occurred had decided to return to Jolo, Sulu.

However, he said that small planes like Islander and Nomad could fly from this city provided the pilots will secure a waiver from ATO.

It was learned from Bayabos that the pilots of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Islander plane ferrying PNP chief Director-General Artuto Lomibao were the first to secure a waiver to fly from ATO.

Lomibao along with some PNP officials arrived here on Wednesday morning and proceeded to Basilan province for a command visit.

They are scheduled to return to Manila in the afternoon of the same day.

Bayabos said they have yet to wait for the arrival of investigators from the ATO safety division to determine why the right landing gear of the plane exploded while touching down.

(PNA)

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