A light aircraft, with 43 passengers onboard, overshot the runway at an airport in central Philippines early Wednesday. There is no injuries reported.
The 70-seater Japanese-made YS-11 turboprop plane, operated by local airline Asian Spirit, overshot the runway when it touched down at Masbate airport, with one of the wheel sets protruding from the runway, local media reported.
Josefina Nunez, the airport manager, told television network ABS-CBN News that the pilot was able to swerve the plane upon landing avoiding possibly heavier damage to the plane.
The plane's right propeller and nose were damaged when it hit the airport's fence. There was also a leak to the plane 's fuel tank which, however, did not cause blaze, the report said.
Strong winds were cited as the only reason for the plane's overshoot. Nunez told reporters that the pilots were unable to control the plane "due the sudden gust during the landing."
Rodolfo Garcia, vice president for operations of the airliner, also clarified that the incident was brought about by a phenomenon called microburst but not due to engine failure.
He said the plane were flying over to Masbate province from Manila. Besides 43 passengers, there were two pilots and two flight attendants. "All those on board the plane were safe," Garcia told reporters.
Asian Spirit services domestic routes in the Philippines and is popular among budget travelers.
Source: Xinhua
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