An AirAsia plane with 159 people onboard skidded off the runway as it landed on a resort island in the Philippines on Tuesday, causing passengers to disembark on the muddy ground and the airport to shut down.
Bad weather was reported on the tourist island of Boracay when the AirAsia Zest flight overshot the runway and skidded into a muddy field at Kalibo airport, the Associated Press reported. Passengers were able to leave the plane, which originated in Manila, using the aircraft's emergency slides, an AirAsia Zest operations representative told the AP.
"Engine was shut immediately, we were told to leave bags, deplane asap. Firetruck was waiting. Seems handled well," tweeted Rappler Indonesia journalist Jet Damazo Santos.
No injuries were reported in the incident. The airport was closed down until the aircraft, with its wheels stuck in the mud, could be towed from the end of the runway, the AP reported.
The incident comes after another AirAsia plane went missing Sunday on its way to Singapore from Indonesia. After three days of searching, officials confirmed Tuesday that bodies and debris from AirAsia flight QZ8501 were found floating in the Java Sea off Borneo, the airline said in a statement. There were 162 passengers and crew onboard.
Also on Sunday, a different AirAsia flight to Manila was canceled after the jet experienced tire problems while passengers were boarding in the Philippine city of Tagbilaran, the AP reported. The tire issue was fixed but a reason for the malfunction was not disclosed.
