Software Glitch Causes Flight Delays at NAIA

(SPOT.ph) Departing and arriving flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were suspended on Monday afternoon, May 20, due to technical issues with the airport’s air traffic management center (ATMC). 

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Acting General Manager Eric Ines said the technical issue began at 11:27 a.m. Reports showed several flights that had already left the gates were forced to return.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued an advisory stating flight operations are on a limited basis in response to a potential problem with the software of the ATMC.

“During the regular monitoring today at the Air Traffic Management Center, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines identified a potential problem with the software of ATMC. To ensure safety of the flying public, CAAP decided to be conservative and control the operations by providing longer separation of departing flights,” CAAP said in a statement.

By 2:02 p.m., CAAP released another advisory, claiming that the "identified problem in the ATMC is now resolved, and regular flight operations are being restored." 

Also read: Expect Scheduled Power Shutdowns in NAIA T3 Until May 28

Possible flight delays at NAIA on May 20

The suspension of flights has caused significant inconvenience to passengers, many of whom are facing delays and potential cancellations. Data from MIAA revealed that 36 domestic flights and 20 international flights were affected by the technical issue as of 3 p.m. 

"In view of the incident, the MIAA is closely working with airline operators to manage the effects of the situation on their passengers and to jointly address expected congestion at the predeparture gates and baggage claim areas," MIAA said in a statement.

MIAA has also opened the NAIA runways for 24 hours for airline flight recovery operations.

Both Cebu Pacific (CEB) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have also issued separate advisories informing passengers of potential delays for flights departing and arriving at NAIA. 

“CEB is coordinating with the necessary authorities on when the situation will normalize. We will provide updates as more information becomes available,” CEB said in a statement.

“We are closely coordinating with the aviation authorities on the adjustment of flight schedules and clearances, as the authorities are working expeditiously to resolve this temporary problem,” PAL said in a statement.

In the meantime, passengers can check their departure status on PAL's flight tracker and CEB's flight tracker for the latest update.

Also read: What Do NAIA’s Yellow and Red Lightning Alerts Mean?

UPDATED (May 20, 2024): This article has been updated to include MIAA's official statement.