A passenger plane from Hong Kong to Melbourne has made an emergency landing in the Philippines after suffering cabin pressure problems.
A passenger plane from Hong Kong to Melbourne has made an emergency landing in the Philippines after suffering cabin pressure problems.
Qantas Airways said its Boeing 747-400, with 346 passengers and 19 crew, diverted to Manila and landed safely.
Qantas Airways said its Boeing 747-400, with 346 passengers and 19 crew, diverted to Manila and landed safely.
Airport Authority spokesman Octavio Lina said the plane lost cabin pressure after take-off and there was a "big hole in the right side near the wing".
Airport Authority spokesman Octavio Lina said the plane lost cabin pressure after take-off and there was a "big hole in the right side near the wing".
He said the passengers looked scared and some vomited after the incident.
He said the passengers looked scared and some vomited after the incident.
Mr Lina said the hole was about 2.5m to 3m in diameter. He added that the flooring near the affected section gave way, exposing some of the cargo below, and part of the ceiling also collapsed.
Mr Lina said the hole was about 2.5m to 3m in diameter. He added that the flooring near the affected section gave way, exposing some of the cargo below, and part of the ceiling also collapsed.
"Upon disembarkation, there were some passengers who vomited. You can see in their faces that they were really scared," he said.
"Upon disembarkation, there were some passengers who vomited. You can see in their faces that they were really scared," he said.
'Gust of wind'
'Gust of wind'
Passengers told Australian media that oxygen masks were deployed about an hour into the flight, which had originated in London, and the aircraft rapidly lost altitude.
Passengers told Australian media that oxygen masks were deployed about an hour into the flight, which had originated in London, and the aircraft rapidly lost altitude.
Passenger Brendan McClements said there was a sudden "gust of wind" through the plane after an hour into the flight.
Passenger Brendan McClements said there was a sudden "gust of wind" through the plane after an hour into the flight.
''There was a degree of surprise - people questioning what it was,'' he told Herald Sun Online.
''There was a degree of surprise - people questioning what it was,'' he told Herald Sun Online.
''There was a rush of wind as the air pressure came down. It got people's attention. It was then a matter of getting the masks on.''
''There was a rush of wind as the air pressure came down. It got people's attention. It was then a matter of getting the masks on.''
Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said engineers were investigating what might have caused the hole in the fuselage.
Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said engineers were investigating what might have caused the hole in the fuselage.
He said Qantas had provided all passengers with accommodation and a replacement aircraft had been arranged.
He said Qantas had provided all passengers with accommodation and a replacement aircraft had been arranged.
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