A PORTION of the ceiling at the recently inaugurated arrival extension of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 collapsed on Friday, resulting in injuries to at least seven people.
The extension, which officially opened its doors on February 8, 2026, with the aim of enhancing passenger flow and alleviating congestion in the main terminal, has since been partially cordoned off to allow for a thorough structural assessment. Airport authorities, including the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the private operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), are collaborating to investigate the incident and implement necessary safety protocols.
Following the collapse, airport medical teams, security personnel, and the PNP Aviation Security Group promptly responded to the scene.
They secured the affected area and provided immediate assistance to those injured. Despite the incident in the extension area, operations within the main terminal, Terminal 1, remained normal, indicating that the structural integrity of the primary terminal was not compromised. NNIC confirmed that their engineering team has inspected the adjacent sections and has deemed them safe for continued normal operations.
An investigation into the cause of the ceiling collapse is currently underway. NNIC is working closely with relevant authorities to determine the root cause of the incident and to establish the appropriate course of action based on the investigation’s findings. The arrival extension was a key component of recent efforts to improve NAIA’s efficiency by relocating services such as car rentals and taxis, thereby aiming to reduce congestion within the main terminal building. The collapse raises questions about the structural integrity of newly developed airport infrastructure and emphasizes the necessity of rigorous safety assessments.
