It took Philippine Airlines (PAL) pilots about to land their aircraft from Manila to notice that the runway lights were missing at the Butuan City airport last Wednesday.
Initial investigation indicated that thieves apparently pulled a fast one, unnoticed by the airport security personnel and workers at the tower of the newly refurbished Butuan City airport in Barangay Bancasi.
Reports from Caraga Police Regional Office claimed PAL pilots in last Tuesday’s flight from Manila to Butuan wondered why the puppy lights were off at runway no. 12 despite foggy visibility due to signs of bad weather.
The pilots, whose names were not disclosed immediately, notified the control tower but tower personnel assured the pilots who were preparing for landing that they had already switched on the lights at Runway 12.
The pilots insisted the switch wasn’t on. This prompted the control tower personnel to call the attention of security personnel on the ground to check the runway lights, only to find out that all lights and wires were gone, carted away by thieves.
Reports said the PAL pilots could only chuckle in disbelief how robbers could easily cart away the runway lights and wires undetected in the wide open space of an airport.
The Air Transportation Office (ATO) here is investigating why the theft went unnoticed despite round-the-clock security measures that were intensified following threats of terrorist bombings in Philippine airports.