25 July 2008

Ex-UK Qantas flight in emergency landing

A Qantas flight to Melbourne that originated in the UK made an emergency landing in Manila in the Philippines, where a hole has been discovered in the fuselage.

The Boeing 747-400 was on the second leg of its journey, from Hong Kong to Australia, when it lost pressure and the pilot diverted to Manila. Some reports in Australian newspapers said it fell 20,000 feet before making the emergency landing.

All 346 passengers and 17 crew disembarked normally and there were no reports of any injuries. Flight QF30 landed in Manila at 11.15am local time today, 4.15am BST.

Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the flight crew had performed emergency procedures after oxygen masks were deployed. The aircraft is currently being inspected by engineers.

The airline has provided passengers with accommodation and a replacement aircraft is on its way to Manila. It will leave Manila at 11pm this evening, arriving in Melbourne tomorrow morning.

By Linsey McNeill

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