A Cathay Pacific aircraft preparing for departure reportedly entered a runway without clearance at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday, forcing another Cathay plane on final approach to abort its landing.
According to flight tracking and air traffic control audio sources, flight CX918 was instructed by controllers to taxi and hold short of Runway 06. Around the same time, arriving flight CX903 from Hong Kong was cleared to land on the same runway.
Controllers then urgently instructed CX903 to go around, which the crew acknowledged and executed. A following Cebu Pacific flight, 5J358, was also told to abort its approach. Controllers simultaneously ordered CX918 to stop.
After Runway 06 was cleared, CX918 entered it from the opposite direction, exited via a taxiway, turned around, and eventually departed for Hong Kong. Flight CX903 landed safely approximately 15 minutes after going around. No injuries were reported.
In a media statement released on Thursday, Cathay Pacific confirmed its awareness of the incident and noted that the aircraft made incorrect use of a taxiway during taxi for departure.
As a precautionary measure, Manila Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed two arriving aircraft to conduct a standard go-around procedure before returning for landing, the airline stated.
ATC subsequently provided clearance for CX918 to enter the runway and depart for Hong Kong. At no time was the safety of passengers or crew compromised.
Cathay Pacific is also conducting a thorough investigation and is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities
