A passenger plane en route from London to Melbourne has made an emergency landing in the Philippines after suffering cabin pressure problems.
A passenger plane en route from London to Melbourne has made an emergency landing in the Philippines after a large hole appeared in its fuselage.
Qantas Airways said its Boeing 747-400, with 346 passengers and 19 crew, diverted to Manila shortly after leaving Hong Kong and landed safely.
Qantas Airways said its Boeing 747-400, with 346 passengers and 19 crew, diverted to Manila shortly after leaving Hong Kong and landed safely.
Airport authority spokesman Octavio Lina said there was a "big hole in the right side near the wing".
Engineers are investigating what caused the hole - about 2.5m to 3m in diameter - that led to cabin pressure problems.
He said the passengers looked scared and some vomited after the incident.
An airport official said passengers looked scared and some were sick.
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.
Airport authority spokesman Octavio Lina said part of 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 described hearing a large bang and feeling a rush of wind through the cabin about an hour into the flight from Hong Kong and the aircraft rapidly lost altitude.
Passenger Brendan McClements said there was a sudden "gust of wind" through the plane after an hour in the air.
Passenger Olivia Lucas told the BBC said everyone was "pretty scared for a few moments".
''There was a degree of surprise - people questioning what it was,'' he told Herald Sun Online.
"Then everyone focused on getting their oxygen masks on," she said. "Everyone was calm and quiet and there was notable relief when we landed. Everyone applauded the pilot."
''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.''
"We are very lucky we landed safely and no-one was hurt."
Another passenger, Glenyce Johnson, told Reuters news agency: "The aircraft plunged from around 40,000ft to 25,000ft."
She said she saw items flying out of the plane.
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.
Were you on the flight? Send us your comments and pictures.
Were you on the flight? Send us your comments and pictures.
