AN AIR Force team is in Saipan investigating what caused an F-16 Falcon fighter jet to go off the runway at the Saipan International Airport. The team arrived last night.
The fighter jet, operated by one pilot, made an emergency landing at the airport at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. As it landed on the runway, it went past the tarmac and ended up in a grassy area.
CNMI Port Authority officials said two runways, 7 and 25, were shut down when the incident occurred. The pilot was not injured.
There are reports that a hydraulic or mechanical malfunction was what caused the jet to go off the runway.
However, the Air Force won’t make any determination pending the outcome of the investigation.
Yesterday, the F-16 Falcon was towed by U.S. Air Force personnel to allow airfield operations to resume. At 4 p.m., the aircraft was moved to the location where maintenance will be accomplished.
Ensuring the safety of all personnel is the top priority, as U.S. Air Force maintenance and safety inspectors work with personnel from the Commonwealth Ports Authority to assess the aircraft and determine its “fly-ability.”
Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for airlines on Saipan as the runways have been cleared for flights.
A source close to Variety said the airport received two flights from Tokyo, Japan early Wednesday morning, about 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Variety learned that two flights from Tokyo were held off for an hour awaiting for confirmation on Saipan that the runways were clear for landing.
Yesterday, Variety was told that flights had resumed at the Francisco C. Ada Saipan International Airport for both Delta Air Lines and Asiana Airlines. (With a report from Alexie Villegas Zotomayor.)
