PAL plane carrying VP Binay’s wife makes emergency landing in Davao

Published September 11, 2015 5:11pm

(Updated 7:48 p.m.) A passenger airplane bound for Manila returned to the Davao City airport for an emergency landing on Friday afternoon after a smoke alarm went off shortly after it took off.

The flight's 131 passengers included Dr. Elenita Binay, the wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay; and former Surigao Del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay.

In an interview on Super Radyo DZBB, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Assistant Director General for Operations Rodante Joya said that the plane involved was a Philippine Airlines Airbus 321 bound for Manila.

"Nag-takeoff iyong eroplano na PAL Airbus 321 and pag-airborne niya... nag-declare ng emergency landing dahil may na-detect na may smoke sa cargo," he explained.

"Bumalik siya kasi yun yung standard operating procedure na talagang magla-land siya," Agnes Udang, CAAP regional manager said in a separate "Balita Pilipinas" report.

However, no smoke was seen when the airplane was inspected.

"Ang pasahero nandoon na sila sa terminal kinuha sila nga airline. Nasa holding area po sila waiting for the next flight," Udang said.

Meanwhile, PAL corporate communication manager Cielo Villaluna in a separate radio interview said that everyone in the flight is accounted for.

She said that PAL will rebook the passengers on another flight to Manila. — Trisha Macas/JDS/NB, GMA News

Tags: philippineairlines, davao, emergencylanding