Seven individuals sustained injuries after a section of the ceiling at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1’s arrival extension area collapsed on Good Friday, April 3. All those hurt were immediately given medical attention, according to reports released later that day.
By 2 p.m., the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued a statement confirming that it had directed the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to coordinate with the terminal’s private operator, New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC), to investigate the incident.
“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to closely coordinate with the private operator of NAIA, the New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC), to immediately investigate the incident involving the collapse of a portion of the ceiling at the arrival extension area of Terminal 1 today, April 3,” the agency said.
The DOTr emphasized that the move was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize the safety of passengers and airport staff.
“This follows the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to always prioritize the safety and welfare of both the passengers and employees at the airport,” the statement added.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez also instructed both MIAA and NNIC to secure the premises and submit a detailed report on the cause of the collapse.
Despite the incident, the DOTr assured the public that operations at Terminal 1 remained unaffected.
“As of this writing, the operations at NAIA Terminal 1 remain normal. The DOTr is closely monitoring the situation and expects a thorough assessment of the incident, including the implementation of necessary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future,” the department concluded.