A Cebu Pacific Airbus A320 plane sits on the grassy part of the landing strip at the international airport in Davao after it overshot the runway during a rainstorm Sunday night. AFP PHOTO / Karlos Manlupig
MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has given Cebu Pacific Air, the country鈥檚 biggest budget airline, until 3 p.m. Tuesday to remove a disabled A-320 plane that is obstructing the runway at the Davao International Airport or the government would carry out the removal operation itself.
At a press conference, CAAP Deputy Director General John Andrews reiterated his earlier statement pointing to human error as a possible cause of the accident, given evidence that the pilot had failed to correct his heading while landing on the airport Sunday night. The plane apparently missed the runway.
鈥淓vidence does not lie. We have now evidence that points to possible human factor. In other words, it may be pilot error,鈥� said Andrews.
He said he was confident that information from the flight data recorder would support his initial theory.
Andrews also questioned why Cebu Pacific failed to order an immediate evacuation鈥攚ithin three minutes as per emergency procedure鈥攄espite the heavy impact of the troubled landing, which left considerable damage on the aircraft.
He said the plane may 鈥渘o longer be salvageable鈥� considering the extent of damage. Andrews said both of the plane鈥檚 engines were severely damaged and the nose gear had collapsed.
CAAP officials also considered the possibility of suspending all Cebu Pacific operations but said the impact on the travelling public and the economy would have to be considered.