20 injured as turbulence rattles PAL plane

MORE than 20 passengers were injured when a Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane experienced turbulence during a Honolulu-to-Manila flight on Friday.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) media affairs unit said flight number PR101 left Honolulu, Hawaii, around noontime. Three hours into the ten-hour flight, the aircraft experienced “clear-air-turbulence,” according to Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesperson.

She said two of the injured passengers suffered head lacerations, while the rest suffered “back, neck and body pains.”

The aircraft, with 132 passengers, landed at Naia at 4:18 p.m., airport officials said.

Villaluna said the injured passengers were ushered into the terminal presidential lounge where PAL doctors were on hand to treat them.

Airport authorities, she said, provided neck braces.

“Some asked for a physical exam, X-ray, and those were provided to them,” she said.

She said as of press time, most of the passengers had been sent home in Manila, while others went on to board their connecting flights.