Malacañang is willing to apologize to thousands of passengers left stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after flights were cancelled due to a Chinese plane crash landing on the runway last Thursday, said Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque, Sunday.
“Of course government is ready to apologize should there be a need or reason for it,” he said.
Amid complaints of irate passengers, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has earlier apologized for the incident, saying it was an “eye-opener” that calls for a second look at the procedures and protocols of concerned agencies and airlines that need improvement.
The airport terminal was shut down for almost 36 hours, resulting in hundreds of flights being cancelled, delayed or redirected.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is conducting an investigation into the incident and has barred the plane’s pilot from leaving the country.
“Titingnan po natin kung may pananagutan iyong piloto (We will see if the pilot is accountable for what happened),” added Roque.
The ill-fated Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 veered off the main runway of NAIA on Friday, August 17, after attempting to land in bad weather.
All 157 passengers and eight crew members were evacuated from the plane safely. — Mai Bermudez
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