CLARK FREEPORT -- Nine huge aircraft were diverted to Clark International Airport (CRK) late Tuesday night after a Saudi Airlines Boeing 747 stalled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Runway 06/24 and caused air traffic congestion.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano said that wide-bodied aircraft were safely accommodated at the Clark aviation facility.
Luciano said that flights started returning to NAIA after the runway was cleared by Manila Airport authorities at 1:35 a.m. on Wednesday.
"All of the passengers of the nine wide bodied aircraft safely landed at Clark Airport," Luciano said.
The aircraft came from Hong Kong, Narita, Dubai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Incheon, all international flights.
Among them were Philippine Airlines flight 307 A-340 via Hong Kong-Manila; Japan Airlines flight 949 B-767 via Narita-Manila; Dragonair flight 931/932 A-320 via Hong Kong-Manila; Emirates flight 334 B-777 via Dubai-Manila; Japan Airlines flight 745 B-767 via Narita-Manila; Singapore Airlines flight 918 B-777 via Singapore-Manila; Etihad flight 428 B-777 via Abu Dhabi-Manila; Korean Air flight 623 B-777 via Inchoen-Manila; and Philippine Airlines flight 469 A-330 via Incheon-Manila.
He said that Clark Airport is ready anytime to accommodate large aircraft.
Clark International Airport recently opened its new Passenger Terminal Building and is currently in full operations for international and domestic flights.
The facility can accommodate four million passengers annually. The airport has an 18,573 square meter area with 34 check-in counters and 24 immigration counters.
CIAC spent P417 million for the construction of the Phase 2 Expansion Project.
Clark International Airport has seven international and local airlines including Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Jin Air, Seair, Tiger Airways and Dragonair.
Air Asia on Tuesday announced the resumption of its flight to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa.