Cebu Pacific Flight 5J786 Canceled After Low-Speed Runway Excursion in Butuan

Cebu Pacific flight 5J786, an Airbus A321neo bound for Manila, was officially canceled rather than delayed on August 9, 2026, after experiencing a low-speed runway excursion during ground maneuvers.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:38 AM while the aircraft, registered as RP-C4120, was backtracking and executing a 180-degree turn to align for departure on Runway 12. During the turn, the plane’s nose landing gear veered off the paved surface and became lodged in the adjacent grassy area.

Safety and Immediate Response

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), all passengers and crew members disembarked safely at the end of the runway with no injuries reported. Emergency and airport teams quickly deployed to the scene to assess the situation and initiate aircraft recovery operations. 

Airport Operations and Widespread Cancellations

Because the disabled Airbus A321neo partially blocked the runway, CAAP temporarily suspended all landing and takeoff operations at Butuan Airport starting at 7:48 AM. This containment measure triggered a cascading effect, forcing the cancellation of 11 additional domestic flights across multiple airlines: 

• Cebu Pacific: 5J 786, 5J 788, 5J 790, 5J 792, and 5J 794 (all routes to Manila)
• Cebgo: DG 6924, DG 6926, and DG 6930 (all routes to Cebu)
• Philippine Airlines: PR 2334 (to Cebu), PR 2939, and PR 2942 (to Manila)

Passenger Accommodation and Ongoing Investigation

Airlines operating out of Butuan Airport provided affected travelers with recovery choices, including standard rebooking, full ticket refunds, or storing the value in a travel fund. CAAP confirmed they are closely monitoring the airport's conditions and are working with government agencies to investigate the technical steering parameters or conditions that caused the nose wheel to slide off the pavement.