Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has ordered an investigation of the power outage that struck Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from 11pm Friday until around 6 am Saturday.

Thirty-one flights, including two to Japan, were delayed due to the power outage. These were 5J 5038 Manila-Nagoya and 5J 827 Osaka-Manila, airport officials said.

Bautista rushed to NAIA Terminal 3 early Saturday when he received the report from the airport’s general manager Cesar Chiong, ABS-CBN reported.

Initial reports received by Bautista indicated that the power trip out triggered the airport generator to activate but its computer system slowed down due to its system’s technical requirements.

Although generators kicked in, computer systems slowed down, it added. Check-ins and off-loading of baggage were done manually.

The power problem was traced to a substation of NAIA Terminal 3, following a   probe by the Manila International Airport Authority and Meralco.

Bautista apologized to the affected passengers.

“As of 6 a.m. today (Saturday), the electric power in all areas of the Terminal has been restored,” the MIAA statement read.

A probe by MIAA and Manila Electric Company traced the problem to the terminal’s power substation. DMS