ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga City International Airport was briefly closed early Monday after a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Manila stopped in the middle of the runway due to a defect on the steering mechanism of the Airbus A320.
A notice by the Cebu Pacific said: “The aircraft used by Cebu Pacific flight 5J 849 (Manila-Zamboanga) has stopped on the runway of the Zamboanga International Airport due a steering fault. Passengers are all safe and will be deplaned from the runway.”
It did not say how many passengers were on board the aircraft, but the incident delayed other commercial flights for hours. “We regret that the aircraft has caused the temporary closure of the Zamboanga International Airport runway. We apologize for the inconvenience this incident has caused,” Cebu Pacific said.
Three of its flights from Manila to Zamboanga and Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi province were also delayed.
The runway was reopened to flights at around 8.35 in the morning after the aircraft was towed to the ramp. Cebu Pacific did not provide additional details or information as to the cause of the steering problem of the Airbus A320. (Mindanao Examiner)
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