Image of Pope Francis in Philippines
Members of the Philippine National Police walk past a banner with an image of Pope Francis as they go to their designated area in Manila January 15, 2015.Reuters

A chartered plane with several Philippines government officials on board skidded off the runway at the Tacloban airport on Saturday, moments after Pope Francis flew out in his plane from the city. 

The plane's nose wedged into the mud as it overshot the runway at Tacloban airport in central Philippines,  a senior government official who witnessed  the scene, told DZMM radio.

"I saw it taxiing down the runway, then it overshot," Tolentino told DZMM radio station, according to AFP. 

Some reports said smoke was detected after the mishap, and firefighters rushed to the scene. 

The plane had Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, and Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said to be aides of Philippine President Benigno Aquino, on board, PhilStar reported. The officials, however, escaped unhurt. 

Pope Francis cut short his visit to the Tacloban, which was devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, as the tropical Storm Mekkhala brought heavy rains and strong winds on Saturday. 

The Pope flew back to Manila after a short visit to the city, where he met survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.

"When I saw in Rome that catastrophe, I felt I had to be here. And on those very days, I decided to come here. I'm here to be with you," he said. 

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