Pilots suspended for Davao City runway accident

Manila: Two pilots of budget airline Cebu Pacific have been suspended for overshooting a runway which resulted in cancellation of several flights in the southern Philippines’ Davao City in June, aviation authorities said, adding they should not have risked landing during inclement weather.

Captain Roel Oropesa of Cebu Pacific was suspended for six months and is prohibited from being a first-in-command pilot for one year, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Deputy Director General John Andrews said on TV.

At the same time, First Officer Edwin Perello, the co-pilot of the ill-fated plane, was suspended for three months for failing to act during the accident, said Andrews.

Cebu Pacific’s Airbus A-320 plane had touched down at the runway when it veered and nose-dived off the runway’s centre on June 2. The accident was due to pilot error, based on a probe, Andrews said, adding that regulations prohibit planes from landing at zero visibility, but the two pilots landed at the airport despite heavy rains.

They also failed to observe the procedures for emergency evacuation demonstration, leaving passengers inside the plane for 15 minutes despite the danger that the plane could have exploded in flames after a bad landing, said Andrews.

The pilots also failed a cockpit checklist procedure while landing the plane, said Andrews.

The plane was also stalled at the runway for two days, disrupted flights and caused an estimated loss of about P250 million (Dh20.8 million).

Earlier, Cebu Pacific said that the 165 people on board the ill-fated plane were not harmed, and the pilots should be praised for that.

Cebu Pacific was asked to provide CAAP with a plan to increase its safety procedures instead of being so focused on cost cutting, Andrews said.

“We can say Cebu Pacific is safe. We just want to make it more safe,” said Andrews.

He did not mention the amount the company will be fined for damage to the runway.

In response, Cebu Pacific said it would comply with CAAP’s recommendations, and promised to improve safety procedures and training of pilots.

Cebu Pacific is known for cheap fares to local and foreign destinations. It is the biggest rival of the Philippine Airlines, known as the country’s flag carrier.