Korean Air plane overshoots runway, shuts down Philippine airport
Korean Air President Woo Keehong has issued a public apology in light of the plane crash
A damaged Korean Air plane remained stuck in the grass at a central Philippine airport Sunday after it overshot a runway in rainy weather. No injuries were reported among the 162 passengers and 11 crewmembers who escaped from the aircraft using emergency slides.
Dozens of flights have been canceled and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, one of the country’s busiest, remained closed due to the stalled aircraft at the end of its lone usable runway.
"All passengers are safe and being attended by ground personnel," the Philippine aviation agency said in a statement.
The close call prompted a public apology from Korean Air’s president and a vow from one of Asia’s most prominent airlines to take steps to prevent a recurrence.
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A security guard walks beside a damaged Korean Air plane on Monday Oct. 24, 2022 after it overshot the runway at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines. The Korean Air plane overshot the runway while landing in bad weather (AP Photo/Juan Carlo De Vela / Associated Press)
"We always prioritize safety in all of our operations, and we truly regret the stress and inconvenience brought to our passengers," Korean Air President Woo Keehong said in a statement.
The front underbelly of the plane was sheared off and its nose was heavily damaged. The plane lay tipped forward on a grassy area with its front landing wheel not visible and emergency slides deployed at the doors. A ripped-open hole was also visible at the top of the plane near a front door.
Officials said the plane’s remaining fuel would be siphoned off before efforts begin to remove the aircraft at the runway’s end. Authorities were also assessing if the other aircraft that are stranded at the airport could be allowed to fly out safely.
Dozens of flights to and from Cebu province were canceled, including those of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, which initially announced more than 50 canceled domestic flights.
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A boy looks at a damaged Korean Air plane after it overshot the runway at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines early Monday. (AP Photo/Juan Carlo De Vela / AP Images)
An investigation into the accident was underway.
The Airbus A330 flying from Incheon, South Korea, attempted to land twice before overrunning the runway on the third attempt, Korean Air Lines Co. said in a statement. The plane
"All passengers are safe and being attended by ground personnel," the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said in a statement.
In 1981, A Korean Air Lines Boeing 747 jetliner overshot the runway while taking off from Manila’s international airport and skidded to a stop at the edge of a major highway. The accident injured more than a dozen of about 350 people onboard.
The plane hit a concrete fence and skidded to a halt on its belly with its front section frighteningly protruding over a busy side road of a key highway south of metropolitan Manila.
The airline said it was trying to find the cause of the incident. The airport said runway operations would temporarily resume for departures from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
A man walks beside a damaged Korean Air plane after it overshot the runway at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines early Monday Oct. 24, 2022. The Korean Air plane overshot the runway while landing in bad weather in the (AP Photo/Juan Carlo De Vela / Associated Press)
Korean Air was recently ranked ninth in the 2022 World Airline Awards hosted by Skytrax, a British-based international air transport rating organization.
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"Korean Air continues to be recognized worldwide for its strong performance throughout the pandemic and efforts to enhance customer service," an airline news release said last week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.