Holed Qantas Plane in Emergency Landing at Manila

Source: Reuters    Author: Karen Lema    07/25/2008

Subject Concerned: Aircraft   Aircrew   Airlines   Airport   

A Qantas Airways plane made an emergency landing in Manila on July 25 after plunging thousands of feet and losing cabin pressure during a flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne.

Passengers reported hearing a loud bang before the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and said the Boeing 747-400 had a hole the size of a mini-van in its undercarriage when it landed in the Philippine capital.

"It was an amazing experience, but not a good one," Glenyce Johnson, 47, told Reuters. "The aircraft plunged from around 40,000 feet to 25,000 feet."

Qantas confirmed the loss of cabin pressure and the rupture in the airplane's fuselage and said all 346 passengers and 19 crew disembarked safely. The aircraft was being inspected.

Johnson, who was traveling home to Australia, saw items flying out of the plane. Oxygen masks were released.

"I have to compliment the pilot for doing a good job, for safely landing the plane."

QF30 left Hong Kong at 9 a.m. and was due to land in Melbourne at 9:45 p.m. on July 25. The flight originated in London.

Photograph 1: Australian pilot Captain John Francis Barters (R) looks at the damage to a Qantas Airways plane after it made an emergency landing at the Manila International Airport on July 25, 2008.

Photograph 2: Aviation workers stand in front of a damaged Qantas Airways plane after it made an emergency landing at the Manila International Airport on July 25, 2008.