Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Accidents and Incidents

Accidents and Incidents

• On February 24, 1949, Cathay Pacific (Douglas C-47A-90-DL). The crew aborted an approach in poor visibility and tried to go around. The aircraft struck a hillside near Braemar Reservoir. All 23 occupants were killed.
• On November 19, 1970, Douglas C-47As PI-C9 and PI-C15 of Philippine Air Lines, and Douglas DC-3D PI-C944 of Fairways Corportation were damaged beyond repair by Typhoon Patsy.
• On July 25, 1971, Pan American World Airways (Boeing 707-321C) The Boeing, named "Clipper Rising Sun", was on a cargo flight from San Francisco via Honolulu, Guam and Manila to Saigon. While on a VOR/DME approach to Manila runway 24, the aircraft struck Mount Kamunay at an altitude of 2525 feet (770 m). All 4 occupants were killed.
• On November 15, 1974, Douglas C-47A RP-C570 of OASIS was damaged beyond economic repair when a forced landing was made in a paddy field shortly after take-off from Manila International Airport following failure of the starboard engine. One of the eight people on board was killed.
• On February 7, 1980, China Airlines Boeing 707 originated from Taipei-Chiang Kai Shek International Airport (TPE) (TPE/RCTP) undershot the runway on landing and caught fire. Of all the 135 on board, there were only 2 fatalities.
• During 1982, Douglas C-47B RP-C3 of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas was damaged beyond repair in an accident at Manila International Airport.
• On August 21, 1983, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was assassinated at the airport after returning to the Philippines from his self-imposed exile in the United States. Five years after the incident he was memorialized by having the airport named in his honor, by virtue of Republic Act No. 6639.
• On December 13, 1983, Douglas C-47B RP-C287 of Philair crashed shortly after take-off following an engine failure. The aircraft was on a non-scheduled passenger flight. All ten people on board survived.
• On May 6, 1989, Douglas C-47A RP-C82 of MATS crashed on following an engine failure. The aircraft was being used on a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight although it was not licenced to carry passengers. All 18 people on board survived.
• On April 28, 1989 Douglas C-47A RP-C81 of Manila Aero Transport System (MATS) crashed shortly after take-off on a non-scheduled domestic passenger flight to Roxas Airport following an engine failure. MATS did not have a licence to fly passengers. Seven of the 22 passengers were killed. The aircraft had earlier made a forced landing on a taxiway at the airport.
• On July 21, 1989 Philippine Airlines Flight 124, a BAC One-Eleven overran a runway in poor visibility and heavy rain. No passengers or crew on board were killed but eight people on the ground were killed when the jet crossed a road.
• On May 11, 1990, Philippine Airlines Flight 143, a Boeing 737–300 suffered an explosion in the center fuel tank near the terminal of Ninoy Aquino International Airport while preparing for takeoff. The fire and smoke engulfed the aircraft before it could be completely evacuated. The explosion was similar to what happened to the ill-fated TWA Flight 800 six years later. 8 people died during the incident
• On May 18, 1990, Aerolift Philippines (Beechcraft 1900C-1) a Domestic Scheduled Passenger bound for Surigao Airport (SUG) (SUG/RPMS) Crashed into a residential area following takeoff. The Beech reportedly suffered an engine failure. All 21 occupants and 4 people on the ground were killed.
• On September 4, 2002, Asian Spirit flight 897 (de Havilland Canada DHC-7-102)carrying 49 occupants, was the last flight of the day to Caticlan and departed the Manila domestic airport for at 15:36 for a one hour flight. On approach to Caticlan the right main gear failed to deploy. The approach was abandoned and the crew decided to return to Manila for an emergency landing. The plane circled for about 35 minutes over Las Piñas to burn off fuel. The crew then carried out an emergency landing with the right gear retracted on Manila's international airport runway 24. After touchdown the aircraft swerved off the runway onto a grassy area. There were no reported injuries or fatalities but the aircraft was Written off (damaged beyond repair).
• On November 11, 2002, Laoag International Airlines Flight 585 took off from Manila runway 31 at just after 6 o'clock for a flight to Laoag and Basco Airport (BSO). Shortly after takeoff engine trouble developed in the aircraft's left engine. The pilot declared an emergency and he tried to land the plane but decided at the last minute to ditch it into the sea. The aircraft broke up and sank in the water to a depth of about 60 feet. 19 of the 34 occupants were killed.
• In March 2006, just before the scheduled soft-opening of terminal 3, a portion of its ceiling collapsed. This pushed back its initial partial opening until July 22, 2008.
• On July 25, 2008 Qantas Flight 30, a Boeing 747 headed from London to Melbourne with a stopover at Hong Kong, made an emergency landing at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. A gaping hole on the belly near the right wing was torn from the fuselage in mid-air when a large piece of what appeared to be canvas and a red piece of insulation material stuck out of the fuselage as if pushed by an explosion from the inside. The 747 was carrying 356 passengers and 19 crew but there were no reported injuries or fatalities.
• On Sunday August 23, 2009, South East Asian Airlines flight DG-0624, flown by Dornier 328 RP-C6328, was hit by strong crosswind when decelerating after landing on runway 13. The aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop in the grass. None of the 32 passengers and 3 crew was injured. The airport had to be temporarily closed for towing the Seair Dornier away.
• On October 17, 2009, Douglas DC-3 RP-C550 of Victoria Air crashed shortly after take-off on a flight to Puerto Princesa International Airport after an engine malfunctioned.The Plane Crashed near a factory in Las Piñas. All on board died
• On June 19, 2010 The Doppler Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (DVOR) controlling NAIA's navigational aid malfunctioned due to a short circuit. Reports said that the incident was caused by a heavy rain downpour. Authorities were forced to close the whole airport for the whole evening and divert all air traffic to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Mactan Island, Cebu. Although they have to get some replacement parts from the Subic Bay International Airport's own VOR, the radar was repaired and daylight air traffic was restored to normal the following day while pilots limited only for a visual approach in all of its runways.
• On December 10, 2011, a Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air cargo plane going to San Jose crashed into the Felixberto Serrano Elementary School in Parañaque, Metro Manila. The plane crashed after the takeoff plunge and crashed straight into the school. The cause of the crash is due to pilot error. It killed at least 14 people including 3 crew members on board the aircraft, and injuring over 20 people. Approximately 50 houses in the residential area were set ablaze by the subsequent fire caused by the plane crash.