MANILA: A Philippine aircraft carrying 180 passengers veered off the runway while landing in the central city of Iloilo late on Friday evening, October 13, according to local media reports.
Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 461 on Friday night made an emergency evacuation of passengers soon after the jet plane landed at the Iloilo International Airport in central Philippines.
Cebu Pacific said all passengers were accounted for and safe.
Update: 7 additional flights
CEBU PACIFIC ADVISORY #7 OCTOBER 14, 2017 ; 7:30 pm
— Cebu Pacific Air (@CebuPacificAir) October 14, 2017
Read: https://t.co/rc97dQs2OK
In an advisory at 7.30pm Manila (3.30pm Dubai), the airline state that it continues to operate additional flights to accommodate passengers on cancelled flights to and from Iloilo.
In total, the airline has mounted seven flights from Saturday morning to expedite the travel of passengers on disrupted flights.
The flights are operating to and from Roxas City, 110km north of Iloilo City, with free land transfers to and from Iloilo provided by Cebu Pacific.
Initial reports indicated that the aircraft veered to the side of runway after landing earlier at the Iloilo International Airport. The Captain then initiated an evacuation.
— Cebu Pacific Air (@CebuPacificAir) October 13, 2017
At 1:30 am Saturday, October 14, Cebu Pacific released a statement saying that Flight 5J 461 (Manila-Iloilo) "veered to the side of runway after landing at the Iloilo International Airport. The Captain then initiated an evacuation."
No inbound and outbound flights were allowed as the runway was affected and an investigation was underway, the airline said.
At 10.30am Manila time (6.30am Dubai), Cebu Pacific stated that a second batch of additional flights to and from Iloilo were being mounted to accommodate passengers on cancelled flights.
The airport, however, remains closed as removal efforts continue for the aircraft that veered off the runway.
Cebu Pacific is working with the authorities to investigate the incident and expedite the re-opening of the airport runway.
— Cebu Pacific Air (@CebuPacificAir) October 13, 2017
We will continue to provide updates as soon as possible.
The statement added all passengers were accounted for and safe. Cebu Pacific said it was "working with the authorities to investigate the incident and expedite the re-opening of the airport runway."
CEBU PACIFIC ADVISORY #2
— Cebu Pacific Air (@CebuPacificAir) October 13, 2017
As of 1:30AM, Oct 14, 2017
All 180 passengers and six crew members of Flight 5J 461 (Manila-Iloilo) are safe and accounted for. pic.twitter.com/d9aeZdAEhD
Social media posts earlier showed passengers getting off the plane using the airplane's slide.
