Members of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) visited the landing site of the Xiamen Airlines passenger jet at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at midnight on Tuesday “to look at [the] reason the aircraft swerved to the grassy portion of the runway following touchdown.”
The Caap and AAIB are expected to file a recommendation on their findings before the black box and the flight recorder of the aircraft are brought to Singapore or Japan for data translation.
House probe
The House Committee on Transportation, meanwhile, has invited the pilots and officials of Xiamen Airlines to its inquiry following the airport mishap.
Committee head and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento said he had also summoned the reports of the Department of Transportation, Manila International Airport Authority, Caap and Civil Aeronautics Board on the incident.
The House of Representatives has set on September 5 its inquiry into the current state of the country’s airports.
Chaos
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben P. Evardone said Xiamen pilots should make clear explanations, stressing the incident has stranded thousands of passengers.
“We should look into the chaos that happened at the airport even after the removal of the plane from the runway. I personally witnessed the chaotic situation at Terminal 1 when my flight for Taipei was canceled. I thought that the situation would normalize already when the flights resumed, only to find out that there were more problems than when the airport was closed,” Evardone said.
“While I understand the accident that happened, I cannot accept the lack of proper management and services to the passengers. Even simple flight monitors to indicate the gate assignments of airlines were not functioning, leaving the passengers guessing on the status of their flights. It was really total chaos and clear lack of efficient crisis management at the Naia,” the lawmaker added.
Downpour
The Xiamen Airlines’s pilot has initially told aviation probers that heavy rains obstructed his view of the runway during his first and second attempt to land the plane.
A Caap source said the voice recording between the air traffic controller and pilot of Xiamen Air flight MF8667 “indicated that there is no distress message, unusual conversation or any explanation from the pilot as to why he aborted his first attempt to land.”
Their last conversation was recorded at 11:30 p.m., when the plane skidded out of the runway and ended at the grassy portion and got stuck in the mud.
“All the technical details encoded on the flight data recorder will help in the analysis on the condition of the Boeing 737 plane when we bring it to Singapore or Japan, while the statement of the pilot and crew is vital to determine human factor,” a Caap official, who requested not be identified, said.
The Naia control tower, it appears, was clueless that Xiamen Air 8667 had already overshot the runway from the time the clearance to land was given and was acknowledged by the pilot, an unofficial transcript of the conversation between the pilot of Xiamen Air flight 8667 and the tower air controller made available on YouTube indicated.
“It appeared that the controller could not see the runway, which should have been visible because the tower is now equipped with viewing video screen,” Senior Ramp Controller Alger Ramo said.
Tap the professionals
House Committee on Metro Manila Development Winston Castelo of Quezon City said the country could earn more revenues in the form of taxes from airports efficiently managed and operated by professionals from the private sector.
“It’s a sad reality that the government is not really good in the airport business. We have been doing it for so many years, and yet we’re not getting any better with it,” he said
“There’s a very good chance that we’ll have airports with global standards if we allow the expertise from the private business community to come in,” he added.
Castelo said corruption still persists in the government and the Naia is not spared from it, as shown by the continuing incidents of pilferage in the facility’s systems.
“Aside from hurting our coffers, this problem negates our efforts to promote tourism in the country. Tourists will have more fun and experience to share with the world if we allow privatization bring wonders to our airports,” the lawmaker said.