Probe on plane fire under CAAP jurisdiction: MCIAA
Cebu Pacific assures all passengers of flight DG6577 are safe
THE Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) met yesterday to discuss, among others, its response procedures and how to improve these following the incident involving a Cebu Pacific propeller aircraft last Monday night.
MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete, however, said that investigating the incident is under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
Villarete said that only the aerodrome operations of the airport are under MCIAA.
“We are waiting for the investigation report of CAAP and Cebu Pacific management on the matter, and we don’t know when they can finish it,” said Villarete.
The aircraft, which was bound for Tacloban City under Cebgo flight DG6577, was preparing for take-off at 7:04 p.m., Monday, but the pilot decided to abort the flight due to fluctuating oil indication on one of its engines.
While the aircraft was taxiing after aborting take-off, its wheel well caught fire. The crew initiated an immediate evacuation of passengers. One of the passengers suffered minor injury.
No CAAP official can reached for comment as of press time yesterday as the agency’s telephone lines are out of service.
Jemar Nietes, head of the Office of the Transportation Security (OTS), also said that the appropriate agency to investigate the incident is CAAP.
The last statement from the airline came from lawyer JR Mantaring, Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs, who assured that all the affected passengers were safe.