London-bound PAL plane makes emergency landing at Naia

A London-bound Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight was forced by smoke in the aircraft to return and make an emergency landing on Friday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

According to a report from the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) operations division, PAL flight PR 720 took off from the Naia for Heathrow Airport at around 2 p.m. on Friday.

Mid-flight, the cockpit indicators detected smoke initially in the cabin emanating from the air-conditioning system. Smoke and fire was later observed on the main landing gear forcing the plane to turn back to the Naia.

PR 720, which had around 155 passengers on board, was able to return and land safely at the Naia some 17 minutes after it departed.

As the aircraft docked at Bay 49 of the Naia terminal 2, Miaa fire and rescue division personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure.

The Miaa operations division said PAL eventually cancelled the flight citing mechanical problems on the aircraft.