Saudia plane gets stuck on NAIA’s grassy portion

MANILA, Philippines - A runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was closed after a Saudi Arabian Airlines passenger plane got stuck on the grassy portion late Tuesday due to alleged miscalculation of the pilot trying to maneuver for takeoff.

Airport operations resumed early yesterday, hours after several flights were diverted and operations at the NAIA were suspended due to the accident.

A notice to airmen (NOTAM) and investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Inquiry Board (AAIIB) were dispatched to the site.

No one among the 298 passengers and 26 crew were injured as airport rescue operations and airline ground handlers helped evacuate the passengers from the plane.

AAIIB investigators said the front wheel of the Saudia Airlines B747 aircraft flight SV871 got stuck in the mud as it went to the grassy portion of runway 06/24. – Rudy Santos, Edith Regalado, Ding Cervantes, Lawrence Agcaoili