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Hole forces Qantas plane to land | Hole forces Qantas plane to land |
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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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