Five Controllers May Face Sanctions

A Philippines Airlines flight destined for Zamboanga City International Airport Friday morning was delayed because air traffic controllers showed up late for work.

Reports of the incident vary, but according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, PAL Flight 123 from Manila was scheduled to land at Zamboanga City around 6 am, but could not raise controllers on the radio, ABS-CBN News said.

The airliner circled the airport for at least 30 minutes before suspending the landing, and was eventually given clearance after five tardy controllers showed up after 7 am, the CAAP said.

Chito Atilano, officer-in-charge of PAL in Zamboanga City, said the plane had 153 passengers on board, and was expected to land around 6:23 a.m.

Two other inbound flights of Cebu Pacific are reported to have landed without ATC clearance in order to arrive on schedule.

Reynaldo Alforte, the airport's assistant chief air traffic controller told yet a different story. "There were two controllers who reported for work a few minutes late, causing delays," Alforte told The Associated Press.

Alforte said PAL Flight 123 approached at the airport several minutes earlier than its scheduled 6:45 a.m. arrival, and finally landed at 6:48 a.m.

Zamboanga City airport manager Celso Bayabos said it was the first time a flight had failed to land on time because of air traffic controllers arriving late for duty.

"We will issue a memorandum to the five employees to explain why they were late," Bayabos said. "There will be sanctions because they placed the lives of the passengers in danger."

Bayabos said the incident has been formally reported to the central offices of both the CAAP and the airlines involved, and is already under investigation.

FMI: www.caap.gov.ph, www.philippineairlines.com, www.cebupacificair.com