Credits: CAAP
A Bombardier aircraft of Philippine Airlines (PAL) overshot the runway at Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Busuanga town shortly before 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, 14 July, due to heavy rains and a slippery runway.
Jordan Rey Bacos, a passenger and resident of Coron, described the incident, attributing the cause to severe weather conditions. “The rain was strong—it was raining when we landed. I felt that the landing was late, that the wheels touched down late. I said it seemed like we were halfway down the runway—because I’m a frequent flyer—I can feel when the wheels deploy properly. I felt earlier that it took a long time for the wheels to touch the runway,” Bacos said.
According to Bacos, PAL management promptly called for rescue services, but the heavy downpour delayed their arrival by at least 25 minutes. Despite the terrifying experience of skidding on the runway, all passengers safely exited the aircraft without injuries.
“My anxiety was really high because we skidded on the runway; it was terrifying. All I could see was grass. We were on the ground and not on concrete anymore. The PAL pilot was excellent; I commend him. And they were really trained well—they didn’t panic. It was just the passengers who panicked,” he added.
Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesperson, confirmed that the incident involved flight PR2680, which left Mactan Airport at 1:44 p.m. and landed at Busuanga Airport at 2:51 p.m. The De Havilland Dash 8-400 NG, carrying 57 passengers, overshot the runway. By 3:40 p.m., all 53 passengers and 4 flight crew members had deplaned safely, with no injuries reported.
Villaluna stated that PAL is working closely with airport authorities to restore normal operations in Busuanga. Photos shared by passenger Jordan Rey Bacos show the plane off the runway, underscoring the severity of the incident.
