TACLOBAN, Philippines - A private plane carrrying 11 government officials skidded off the runway of Tacloban International Airport in few minutes after Pope Francis departure on Saturday afternoon.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. were on board the Global Express Bombardier jet. Those on board also includes Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista and the officials’ staff and security.
Cabinet officials were in Tacloban for the Papal visit in Tacloban City, Leyte.
Police official in Tacloban said all 11 people onboard the plane are safe.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, who was on a separate plane, said the first plane was already taxiing and ready to take off when something happened.
"Kapansin-pansin sa mga nanonood na nagbago ang arangkada ng eroplano," he said.
Here are some photos of the accident at Daniel Z. Romualdez airport in Tacloban City (Photos courtesy of Jeff Canoy via Twitter)
Tacloban officials at the airport said they heard what seemed like an explosion on one of the tires before the rented plane by government skidded the runway.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement said that passengers of the plane did not sustain any injuries and families of those on board have also been notified that the passengers are safe.
“The President was happy to hear that all on board were safe and directed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to investigate whether the proximate cause of the incident was weather-related or otherwise,” Lacierda said.
PAGASA raised Storm Signal No. 2 over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar and Leyte including Biliran due to Tropical Storm Amang.
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| Private plane carrying cabinet officials skids off runway | Credit: @jeffcanoy |
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. were on board the Global Express Bombardier jet. Those on board also includes Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista and the officials’ staff and security.
Cabinet officials were in Tacloban for the Papal visit in Tacloban City, Leyte.
Police official in Tacloban said all 11 people onboard the plane are safe.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, who was on a separate plane, said the first plane was already taxiing and ready to take off when something happened.
"Kapansin-pansin sa mga nanonood na nagbago ang arangkada ng eroplano," he said.
Here are some photos of the accident at Daniel Z. Romualdez airport in Tacloban City (Photos courtesy of Jeff Canoy via Twitter)
Tacloban officials at the airport said they heard what seemed like an explosion on one of the tires before the rented plane by government skidded the runway.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement said that passengers of the plane did not sustain any injuries and families of those on board have also been notified that the passengers are safe.
“The President was happy to hear that all on board were safe and directed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to investigate whether the proximate cause of the incident was weather-related or otherwise,” Lacierda said.
PAGASA raised Storm Signal No. 2 over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar and Leyte including Biliran due to Tropical Storm Amang.
