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Philippine plane overshoots runway, kills 3
In this story:
March 22, 1998
Web posted at: 7:19 p.m. EDT (1919 GMT)BACOLOD, Philippines (CNN) -- At least three people on the ground were killed and dozens of people were injured Sunday when a Philippine Airlines plane overshot a Bacolod runway and plowed into a residential neighborhood, officials said.
The plane, an Airbus 320 with 121 passengers and six crew en route from Manila, slammed into a discotheque and dozens of shacks at the end of the runway at Bacolod airport, 490 km (305 miles) south of Manila, at about 7:40 p.m.
Everyone on board the plane was rescued, although some were hospitalized with serious injuries, including two Japanese passengers and the plane's pilot, officials said.
Ric Egona, general manager of the Bacolod airport, confirmed that at least three people died after being pinned on the ground by the plane.
Rescuers said they were still digging under the plane to see if anyone else was pinned under its belly. Most of the more than 100 people treated in various hospitals suffered only minor injuries.
Five people were reported to be hospitalized in serious condition, officials said.
The heavily damaged plane lay on its belly in the rubble of the crushed discotheque. One wing looked to be almost completely destroyed.
"The plane was shuddering when it hit the ground. I thought it would explode," said passenger Rosalinda Castillo.
Cause of accident unknown
Airport tower supervisor Rafael Dolfo said the pilot of PAL Flight 137 did not report any problems and landed properly, but then the plane overshot the runway for unknown reasons.
"We don't know the cause yet, what really happened," Philippine Air Transport chief Carlos Tanega said, adding that he discussed upgrading facilities at Bacolod airport with President Fidel Ramos just a few hours before the accident.
Dolfo said the plane plowed through a low concrete perimeter fence, crossed a creek and hit a row of houses and the nightclub before stopping, its nose on the shoulder of a highway. Egona said the plane came to a halt about 200 meters (yards) from the runway.
The plane's two engines and wheels broke off and fell into the creek, but the aircraft did not explode, witnesses said.
Airline facing financial problems
It was the country's second fatal aviation accident in seven weeks, after a DC-9 owned by Cebu Pacific Air slammed into a mountain in the southern Philippines on February 2, killing all 104 people aboard.
Sunday's accident comes at a time when Philippine Airlines, the country's national carrier, is experiencing severe financial difficulties and heavy losses caused by Asia's currency crunch.
Last month, Jaime Bautista, airline vice president and chief finance officer, said PAL had indefinitely postponed orders for nine aircraft and planned to reduce flights worldwide due to the losses.
The airline also will reduce its expenses by up to 40 percent in the next few years and cut its work force, he said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Philippine crash rescuers find no survivors - February 4, 1998
- Crash site of missing Philippine jet found - February 3, 1998
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