Manila-Haneda flights resume after Japan plane tragedy

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has resumed flights between Manila and Tokyo's Haneda Airport after two Japanese planes collided Tuesday night.

In a statement on Wednesday, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the flag carrier's operations to and from Haneda, Tokyo were already «back to normal.»

«Flight PR424 (Jan. 2) – originally scheduled to depart at 7:05 p.m. – took off from Manila shortly before 10 p.m. and landed in Tokyo's Haneda Airport at past 2 a.m. local time,» she said.

Villaluna said Haneda authorities temporarily closed the runways, affecting PAL flight PR424, due to the collision between a Japan Airlines plane and an earthquake relief aircraft.

Five crew members of the coast guard plane were killed in the crash.

READ: Japan Airlines jet bursts into flames after collision with earthquake relief plane at Tokyo Haneda airport

The unfortunate event came after Japan was jolted by a massive magnitude 7.5 earthquake on New Year's Day.