A Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight from Dumaguete in Negros Oriental made an emergency landing at Iloilo International Airport on Sunday afternoon, April 19.
PAL Flight 2544 (RP-C8619) landed at 4:30 p.m. after “reports of insufficient oxygen supply in the cabin, according to the airport management.
The aircraft bound for Manila experienced the problem after it “reached its cruising altitude of 32,000 feet.”
The management said the aircraft landed safely, but “some passengers required immediate medical assistance upon arrival.”
In a Facebook post, one of the passengers recounted his experience when the aircraft encountered the problem.
“Lord, my heart is still pounding, but it is full of gratitude.What could have been a moment of fear and uncertainty became a testimony of Your protection,” Jong Narciso wrote.
“As our plane was forced to make an emergency landing here in Iloilo, I felt the weight of the situation—but even more, I felt Your presence. You are truly our refuge, our strong fortress in times of trouble,” he added.
According to Narciso, the airplane captain, while taking off, announced that they were trying to fix the aircon problem inside the cabin.
“But mid-air it wasn’t solved and there was turbulence, which made the situation stressful and overwhelming. This caused the oxygen masks to automatically drop from overhead compartments,” he said.IMT
