PAL plane makes emergency landing in Japan due to smoke in cabin

(AFP file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Airlines (PAL) aircraft made an emergency landing at Haneda Airport in Japan after an air conditioning unit emitted smoke, the airline confirmed on Thursday.

The Boeing 777, with registry number RPC-7782, was carrying 355 passengers.

“Philippine Airlines confirms that Flight PR102, which departed from Manila on April 9, Wednesday, en route to Los Angeles, diverted to Haneda Airport due to initial findings of smoke emitting from one of two air conditioning units,” the airline said in a statement on Thursday.

“Rest assured that we are in full coordination with Philippine government authorities through the office of the DOTr (Department of Transportation) Secretary and local airport authorities in Haneda,” PAL added.

READ: Philippine Airlines eyes prepandemic pax count

In an interview with Radyo 630 on Thursday morning, passenger Alicia Thompson said smoke was first detected about two hours after take-off.

“Maayos naman sila (authorities) sa amin. In order naman sila. Wala namang panic, wala namang excitement dito,” she added.

(The authorities here are handling us well. They are in order. There’s no panic.)