A 777-300ER plane belonging to Philippine Airlines (PAL) was forced to return to
Manila after reporting a landing gear problem.
Philippine Airlines flight PR 300 bound for Hong Kong departed runway 06-24 at 7:56 a.m. from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 with 359 passengers
including 2 infants and 13 flight crew.
According to Capt. Alejandro P. Campos, Jr., vice-president for flight operations, the aircraft did not declare emergency landing on its return.
"The aircraft took off normally... But during the flight, the pilot
saw the landing gear was not properly stowed. Rather than continue, they
went back. This was a retraction problem," he said.
The airline on Friday clarified that none of its terminated employees were involved in aircraft maintenance, saying that PAL’s fleet of airplanes are being maintained by Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP).
Passenger Carol Tinio, who is traveling with her son for a vacation in
Hong
Kong, reported tremors inside the plane and started praying for safety,
while German national Dirk Roessler said he was unaware of any emergency
until he saw rescue personnel following the plane after landing. Passengers
were eventually transferred to another plane, a Boeing 747 that departed past noon on the same day towards
Hong Kong.
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