Press Release
August 21, 2018

HONTIVEROS RAISES CONCERN OVER 61 UNCOORDINATED FLIGHTS

"This is totally unacceptable. Our international airport is not a colorum jeepney or tricycle terminal."

This was the reaction of Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros after the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) revealed that 61 uncoordinated "recovery flights" were made at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) hours after a stranded Xiamen Air jet was removed from its runway.

On Monday, it was reported that MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said that they were able to document 61 unexpected recovery flights. He said that the planes coordinated instead with the Civil Aviaition Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), causing further congestion and hampering the resumption of NAIA's normal operations.

Recovery flights are those that have been diverted to other airports, but have landed at their original destinations.

"61 uncoordinated flights are 61 times aviation safety may have been compromised," Hontiveros said.

"One uncoordinated flight is already a cause of concern, what more sixty-one uncoordinated ones? Kung ang mga jeepney at tricycle terminals nga ay may sistema, how much more should international airports with complex air traffic and flight management systems? If what MIAA said was true, it's short of a miracle that no untoward incidents were reported after the Xiamen Air runway mishap," Hontiveros stressed.

Hontiveros said that MIAA's revelation is admission that its management of its immediate airport environment was undermined. She said that she will support a proposed Senate inquiry to look deeper into the matter, explaining that there are a lot of questions the country's aviation and airport authorities need to explain to the public.

"Why did those 61 planes decide to coordinate their flights solely with CAAP, failing to inform MIAA? What were the weaknesses in communication and coordination between our aviation and airport authorities and passenger planes? How blind was NAIA about the recovery flights, when was it finally informed and how did it cope with the unexpected plane arrivals? How do CAAP and MIAA work together to ensure safe and efficient air travel? What were the aviation standards and protocols not observed during that period and how they can be strengthened in the future? Was passenger safety endangered during those unexpected flights?" Hontiveros queried.

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