Saudi Arabian Airlines’ SV871 flight will return to Riyadh from the Philippines Wednesday night after its B747-400 jumbo jet skidded off the runway while taking off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on Tuesday.
“We have informed passengers about the new flight time,” a Saudia spokesman said, adding that SV871 would take off at 12 p.m. Saudi time from Manila’s airport. He said no passenger was hurt in Tuesday’s accident.
According to a report issued by the Aviation Investigation Bureau in the Kingdom, the Saudia aircraft skidded off the runway because of heavy rains and strong winds.
“The aircraft’s rear right wheels skidded off while it was turning toward the runway; the wheels were immersed in mud and the plane stopped completely,” it said.
The passengers were then evacuated from the aircraft, accommodated at hotels and provided with other services, the Saudia spokesman said.
“We have also conducted technical tests to ensure the aircraft’s safety,” he added.
Saudi authorities thanked civil aviation authorities at Manila airport for extending assistance to draw back the plane to its location.
The Civil Aviation Authority in the Philippines is the official authorized body tasked with investigating the incident and coordinating with others for further procedures, it said.
Some Saudi bloggers blamed the aircraft’s pilot for the accident, while others praised the pilot for averting death or injury. There were 321 passengers on board the flight. One blogger urged the airliner to ground its old aircraft and replace them with newer models.


