/ 25 July 2008

Qantas jet makes emergency landing in Manila

A Qantas flight en route to Australia from London made an emergency stop in Manila on Friday, and airport authorities discovered a big hole in the Boeing 747-400’s fuselage near the right wing.

There were no injuries, but some of the 350 passengers vomited after disembarking, said Manila International Airport Authority deputy manager for operations Octavio Lina.

”There is a big hole on the right side near the wing,” he said, adding it was 2,2m to 2,7m in diameter.

The flooring gave way, exposing some of the cargo beneath, he said. The ceiling around the area also collapsed.

”Upon disembarkation, there were some passengers who vomited. You can see in their faces that they were really scared,” he said.

Passengers who talked to the media at the airport described hearing an explosion, followed by oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling.

The passengers would be provided with hotel accommodation while the aircraft was being repaired, said Alfonso Cusi, the airport’s general manager.

Australia’s Herald Sun Online quoted passengers as saying the plane plunged 6 000m after a door ”popped” during the flight.

Flight QF 30 was one hour from Hong Kong when oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling during the incident, the report said. — Sapa-AP