A Philippine Airlines flight bound for Manila carrying 342 passengers and 18 crew members landed safely at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday (Manila time) after suffering apparent engine failure shortly after takeoff.
PAL Flight PR 113, which took off from LAX at 11:45 a.m. local time (3:45 a.m. on Nov. 22, Manila time) was headed to Manila when its journey was immediately cut short and made an emergency landing at LAX 12 p.m. local time.
The pilots declared an emergency and reported a possible engine failure on the Boeing Co 777, Los Angeles International Airport said.
A witness on the ground described “bursts of flames” coming out of an engine.
All the passengers and crew members aboard the plane disembarked safely using regular stairs following an emergency landing at LAX, PAL said in a statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane returned and landed without incident.
Television station ABC-7 in Los Angeles aired video of the plane after takeoff that showed flames and smoke coming out of the right engine.
The plane landed around 12 p.m. local time and was met by the Los Angeles Fire Department, the airport said. There has been no impact on other flights.
Boeing and General Electric, which makes the GE90 engine for the 777 twin-aisle jetliner, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The cause of the apparent engine failure was not immediately clear.
‘BURST OF FLAMES’
“You saw bursts of flames, little flames shooting out from the engine,” said Andrew Ames, a 36-year-old fitness professional in Los Angeles, who watched as the plane ascended over the ocean after takeoff.
“It almost looked like backfire flames from a motorcycle or car.”
“I had never seen a plane spew flames repeatedly. Then it stopped. As soon as it stopped, I saw the plane bank left, like it was heading back to airport,” Ames said.
While the cause of the apparent engine failure was not immediately clear, it comes as Boeing faces intense scrutiny over twin deadly crashes involving its 737 MAX single-aisle jetliner. The 737 MAX has been grounded worldwide since March
The airline announced that assistance for affected passengers were being extended, including rebooking on alternative flights to Manila and provision of meals and hotel accommodations.
PILOT LAUDED
PAL lauded the plane’s pilot, Capt. Triston Simeon, and cabin crew for the successful emergency landing and calm and orderly disembarkation of its passengers.
“We likewise recognize and appreciate the calm professionalism exhibited by our experienced flight and cabin crew, headed by Captain Triston Simeon and Purser Joanne Marie Dirige, in executing the unscheduled landing and taking care of our passengers,” PAL said.
According to the company, the flight involved a Boeing 777 aircraft with registry number RP-C7775.
PAL said they are fully cooperating with the authorities on the investigation of the incident.
“We affirm that safety is our top priority and that Philippine Airlines is fully cooperating with the concerned airport and aviation authorities,” PAL said. (Reuters, PNA, Ariel Fernandez)
