A PHILIPPINE Airlines plane carrying 254 people on a domestic flight made an emergency landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) shortly after takeoff after smoke was reported in the cockpit and cabin.
A report to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the plane—with flight number PR 1857—had just departed Terminal 2 at 2:32 p.m. bound for Mactan, Cebu, yesterday when it declared the emergency and requested to land back in Manila.
Eric Apolonio, CAAP spokesperson, said the aircraft was airborne for 10 minutes.
A Filipino journalist on board, Nestor Abrematea, said he and other passengers smelled smoke but did not see any in the cabin, adding that many got scared but did not panic when the pilot announced that the plane would head back to Manila for safety reasons.
The aircraft, with four pilots, nine crew members and 241 passengers, landed safely at the Naia at 2:42 p.m.
Apolonio said that after a check, the aircraft was cleared by the Manila International Airport Authority Fire Department. Kristine Felisse Mangunay, with an AP report