KLM pilot takes wrong turn at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - The pilot of a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight made a wrong turn upon landing and came nose to nose with a departing Malaysian Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 Saturday night.

According to an insider, who asked not to be identified, the pilot of KLM Flight 807 tried to make a turn at the Rapid Exit 3 taxiway, defying the instruction of control tower personnel to use Echo 5 taxiway.

The KLM flight ended up in the path of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 803, a Boeing B737-800, which was due for take-off, the source said.

The KLM pilot told the air traffic controller that he made a wrong turn due to a “steering problem,” the source said. The insider said the Echo 5 taxiway is meant for larger aircraft like the KLM’s Boeing B777.

The incident, which lasted 20 minutes, delayed the take-off of a Philippine Airlines flight bound for the United States. KLM Flight 807’s turnaround flight was delayed for 45 minutes.

The source said airport technical staff had to pull the Malaysia Airlines plane to the NAIA Terminal 1 remote parking to give way for the KLM plane to proceed to its proper berth.

The Netherlands carrier officially launched its operation at the NAIA-3 last Aug. 1 this year along with four foreign airlines.