Aviation Safety

Cebu Pacific flight returns to Mactan after landing gear issue

Mechanical concerns prompt precautionary return; all passengers safely transferred to alternative aircraft

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A Cebu Pacific flight bound for Manila safely returned to its origin airport after encountering technical difficulties with its landing gear early Saturday morning.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Cebu Pacific flight 5J-588, operating from Cebu to Manila, experienced a landing gear issue on March 8, 2025. The aircraft returned to Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 5:30 AM where all passengers and crew disembarked safely.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24.com shows the Airbus A321neo (registration RP-C4127) departed Cebu at 4:41 AM. The aircraft was observed overflying the airport at approximately 6:00 AM, likely for visual confirmation with the control tower that the landing gear was properly deployed.

After confirming the aircraft’s status, the pilots executed a safe landing back at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Passengers were promptly transferred to another aircraft, an Airbus A321neo with registration RP-C4124. The replacement flight, operating under the same flight number, departed Cebu at 7:08 AM and arrived in Manila at 8:04 AM without further incident.

The quick aircraft replacement minimized disruption to passengers’ travel plans, with the delay totaling less than four hours from the original departure time.

CAAP and the airline has not yet released additional details regarding the specific nature of the landing gear issue. The affected aircraft will likely undergo thorough inspection and maintenance before returning to service.

Written by
Dirk Andrei Salcedo

Dirk is the founder and editor-in-chief of Aviation Updates Philippines (AUP), a platform dedicated to providing the latest news and insights on the aviation industry in the Philippines. With a strong passion for aviation and a background in computer engineering, he manages all aspects of AUP, from website development to content curation.

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