Philippines grounds all Lionair planes after crash killing 8 people

In this handout photo provided by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Media Affairs Office, the remains of a Lionair, West Wind 24 aircraft lies along the runway after it caught fire during take off at Manila's International Airport in Philippines late Sunday March 29, 2020. -AP/MIAA Media Affairs Office

MANILA, Philippines, March 30 (The Inquirer/ANN) — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has grounded the entire fleet of aircraft charter service company Lionair Inc. after one of its medical evacuation (Medevac) planes burst into flames during takeoff in Manila last night, killing all eight people onboard.

“While investigation on the medical evacuation plane RP-C5880 is ongoing, it has been decided that Lionair’s entire fleet will be grounded, ” the air safety regulator said in a statement on Monday.