No passengers harmed after Korean Air flight overshoots runway at Filipino airport

Korean Air Flight KE631 after crashing in the Philippines.
(Image credit: Lapu Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A Korean Air plane overran the runway Sunday at an airport in the Philippines, while attempting to land during bad weather.

Bloomberg reported the plane, an Airbus A330-300 designated Korean Air Flight KE631, had taken off from Seoul bound for Mactan Cebu International Airport, the second-busiest airport in the Phillippines. On approach to Mactan Cebu during a storm, flight tracking radar showed the plane circling the airport twice before attempting to land.

At least 50 domestic flights were forced to be redirected and diverted as Mactan Cebu remains closed, as the damaged Airbus is blocking the airport's single usable runway.

In a statement obtained by AP, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reiterated, "All passengers are safe and being attended by ground personnel."

Korean Air President Keehong Woo apologized for the incident in a press release, in which he promised that a "thorough investigation will be performed together with the local aviation authorities and Korean authorities."

"We always prioritize safety in all of our operations, and we truly regret the stress and inconvenience brought to our passengers," Woo added.

Justin Klawans, The Week US

Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.