MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): A passenger plane overshot the runway of Busuanga Airport in Coron, Palawan on Sunday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.
The CAAP reported that 57 people — 53 passengers and four crew members — were onboard the plane when the accident occurred at 2:52pm.
The aircraft stopped on a grassy area beyond the concrete runway, causing the airport's closure, and forcing incoming flights to be diverted to other airports.
In a statement, the Philippine Airlines (PAL) said flight PR2680 departed Mactan Airport at 1:44p.m., landed at Busuanga Airport, and overshot the runway. The passengers and crew of the plane were safely evacuated at 3:40p.m.
“All passengers [are] safe, no reported injuries,” CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said.
PAL said all passengers and crew members “have been deplaned safely, with no injuries reported.”
When asked why the accident occurred, Apolonio said the initial assessment showed “hydroplaning.”
Hydroplaning is when a vehicle or an aircraft’s tire rides up on a thin surface of water, losing contact with the pavement, which leads to a sudden loss of control.
Apolonio said the assessment is still up for validation by CAAP’s aircraft accident investigators deployed to the area.
According to PAL, they are currently working closely with authorities to restore normal operations at Busuanga Airport.
“We want to assure you that safety is our utmost priority, and we continuously strive to maintain the highest standards of safety with all necessary precautions in place,” it added. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
