Plane lands at NAIA after smoke seen in cabin

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine Airlines plane en route to Haneda airport in Tokyo returned to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 20 minutes into its flight yesterday after the crew detected smoke in the cabin.

The plane with 235 people on board landed safely and there were no reports of injury. Firefighters and rescue teams were dispatched but the plane landed without incident.

Airline spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna said the A340-300 aircraft with 222 passengers and 13 crewmembers returned “due to a technical concern.”

She said the plane is being examined to determine why it had to turn back and the cause of the smoke was not known.

Passengers continued their journey yesterday afternoon on a replacement flight, she added.

Last week, a Saudi Arabian Airlines pilot mistakenly pressed a hijack warning button on a flight approaching NAIA, where officials mobilized commando forces and isolated the jet after it landed.