Qantas jet makes emergency landing in Manila (2nd Roundup)

Jul 25, 2008, 8:56 GMT

A handout photo released from Manila International Airport Media Affairs office show Qantas pilot Captain John Francis Bartels views the damage right side wing of Qantas plane after an emergency in Manila airport in Manila, Philippines on 25 July 2008. Qantas flight QF 030 bound for Mebourne from Hongkong made an emeregency landing at Nino Aquino International Airport due to cabin pressurization problem with 350 passenger on board EPA/EDWIN LLOBRERA / MIAA

Manila - A Qantas Boeing 747 made an emergency landing in Manila Friday after a tear in the plane's undercarriage caused it to lose pressure.

The plane, which was on its way from Hong Kong to Melbourne, diverted to the Philippine capital.

All 343 passengers, including six minors, and 19 crew members were unharmed but experienced dizziness and vomiting, Manila airport terminal manager Octavio Lina said.

Speaking from the Manila airport, June Kane from Melbourne said she heard a loud bang from underneath the plane and saw debris fly through the cabin.

'I'm looking at the plane now, and on the left-hand side, just forward of the wing, there's a gaping hole from the wing to the underbody,' she told Australia's ABC Radio. 'It's about 2 metres by 4 metres, and there's baggage hanging out, so you assume that there's a few bags that may have gone missing.'

Lina said the plane's 'fuselage exploded in mid-air' while the craft was flying at about 9,000 metres.

'There is a big hole in the belly of the aircraft near the right wing about 3 meters in diameter,' he said.

Passengers commended their pilot for safely landing the plane.

'There was a loud explosion right behind my seat,' said Thamarow Ranish, a 30-year-old Indian national. 'I saw on my window the flying debris. It was very, very frightening until I felt that the plane is lowering down.'

Lina said the passengers were taken to nearby hotels to wait for their new flight after being checked by medical personnel at the airport.