DAVAO CITY (June 16) — Tension gripped passengers at Ozamiz Airport on Monday morning after a Philippine Airlines (PAL) aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction while taxiing on the runway, resulting in an emergency stop and the cancellation of the flight.
According to passenger accounts, the aircraft had safely landed and was taxiing toward the terminal when it suddenly halted. The pilot reportedly informed passengers that the plane had suffered a steering failure, preventing it from reaching its designated parking bay.
“Igo ra’g naka-land, then pag-tuyok na, nadaot na daw ang steering,” one passenger recounted.
“Pero sa pag-taxi pa lang nato sa Manila murag naa na gyud toy tingog… mura’g kagolkol,” the passenger added, suggesting that unusual noises had already been noticed during taxiing in Manila.
Some passengers initially thought the aircraft was preparing for another takeoff but were later informed that the malfunction occurred during the final taxi toward the terminal, only meters away from the boarding gate area.
Airport ground personnel and security teams promptly secured the runway and assisted passengers in safely disembarking. No injuries were reported, although the incident caused temporary delays in other airport operations.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and PAL’s technical team have launched an investigation to determine the root cause of the malfunction. Initial checks are focusing on whether the mechanical issue that forced the emergency stop in Ozamiz was linked to the reported unusual noise heard earlier during taxiing at Manila’s airport.
As of this update, PAL and CAAP Ozamiz have yet to release an official statement regarding the extent of the aircraft’s damage or if subsequent flights may be affected. Affected passengers have been advised to coordinate with PAL ground staff for rebooking arrangements and customer assistance.
Travelers are encouraged to monitor PAL’s official channels for further advisories.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
