Xiamen Airlines says sorry over NAIA runway mishap

MANILA, Philippines — Xiamen Airlines has apologized for the runway mishap last week, which led to a number of flight cancellations and affected thousands of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“Xiamen Airlines apologizes to all the passengers affected by the incident and will do its utmost to assist,” the airline’s chairman, Che Shanglun, said in a statement Monday.

Statement issued by Che Shanglun, Chairman of Xiamen Airlines, to the public @MIAAGovPH pic.twitter.com/wscHmPDBva

— Xiamen Airlines (@XiamenAirlines) August 20, 2018

Last Thursday, a Xiamen Airlines aircraft skidded off NAIA’s main runway. The plane was removed from the rain-soaked spot where it had been stuck early Saturday.

Airport authorities finally reopened the runway past 11 a.m. Saturday.

Che said that Xiamen Airlines is fully cooperating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to probe the cause of the incident.

He added that all flights of Xiamen Airlines to the Philippines would be carried out normally.

The airline executive also expressed gratitude to airport authorities for its support to Xiamen Airlines.

“After the incident of flight MF8667 skidded off the runway, Manila International Airport made a lot of efforts to help us to settle the passengers and move the aircraft from the runway,” Che said.

The Palace earlier said that “more than an apology” is needed from the people responsible for the overshooting of a Xiamen Airlines plane.

“It’s not just an apology that we will ask for. We’re now conducting an investigation if there’s any liability on the part of the Xiamen pilot that’s why he has been asked not to leave the country. That’s part of an ongoing investigation,” Roque said in a press briefing Monday.

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