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Hole forces Qantas plane to land Hole forces Qantas plane to land
(9 minutes later)
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.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.
Engineers are investigating what caused the hole - about 2.5m to 3m in diameter - that led to cabin pressure problems.Engineers are investigating what caused the hole - about 2.5m to 3m in diameter - that led to cabin pressure problems.
An airport official said passengers looked scared and some were sick.An airport official said passengers looked scared and some were sick.
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.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 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.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 Olivia Lucas told the BBC said everyone was "pretty scared for a few moments".Passenger Olivia Lucas told the BBC said everyone was "pretty scared for a few moments".
"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.""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."
"We are very lucky we landed safely and no-one was hurt.""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."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.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.


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