DOTr launches safety review after deadly SUV crash at NAIA

The Department of Transportation has launched an urgent safety review following a deadly SUV crash at NAIA Terminal 1 last Sunday.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon inspected Terminal 1 on Friday, highlighting changes to traffic flow and the integrity of safety installations; NAIA announced a new drop-off zone layout with a parallel parking system replacing the previous diagonal setup.

Immediate changes include implementing parallel parking or drop-off systems at Terminals 1 and 2 to improve traffic management and passenger safety, as well as auditing all security bollards following concerns about their effectiveness in preventing vehicle crashes.

A critical part of the review involves inspecting bollards or protective barriers to ensure they meet international standards; NAIA is conducting a comprehensive audit of these bollards after they failed to prevent a recent deadly crash.

Dizon has ordered comprehensive checks on all airport terminals to assess the adequacy and condition of existing bollards, addressing concerns about substandard construction.

The DOTr is requesting private operators to conduct independent engineering audits of safety installations and expedite replacements for inadequate measures.

Results from these investigations will be made public as soon as they are available.