An aircraft of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) bound for Tagbilaran City was diverted to Mactan Airport due to heavy rains on Thursday morning.

According to PAL Bohol manager Emma Casenas, there was “zero” visibility at the Tagbilaran City Airport as a result of the downpour.

Casenas told the Chronicle that PAL flight PR 2773 from Manila was not given clearance by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) tower to land.

The aircraft was supposed to touch down at the Tagbilaran City Airport at 10 a.m., she said.

After several hours, the passengers were able to fly from Mactan on board the same aircraft as skies cleared over the Tagbilaran City runway.

According to Casenas, the PAL flight reached Tagbilaran City at 2 p.m.

Food and drinks were offered to the stalled passengers, she said.

Meanwhile, flights bound for Manila were also already able to leave the Tagbilaran City airport.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier today reported that heavy rains in several areas in Bohol were caused by a thunderstorm.

The weather disturbance was expected to last for only one to two hours. (Allen Doydora)