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Monday, November 17, 2003
Imee, Zubiri in false plane crash
A PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) plane that was earlier reported to have exploded and crashed in Davao City landed safely Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
None of the passengers, among them Ilocos Norte’s 2nd District Rep. Imee Marcos and Bukidnon Rep. Miguel Zubiri, was hurt.
Naia General Manager Edgardo Manda, however, confirmed that flight PR 816 encountered problems airborne at 2,500 feet when the aircraft’s engine “stalled” after a foreign object entered it.
PAL’s Saturday flight was reported to have exploded in midair, prompting panicking text messages all over the city on the plight of its passengers.
The loud explosion and “fireballs” residents near Davao’s airport heard and saw from the aircraft occurred after the pilot restarted the engine and maintained the plane’s ascent, Manda said over the radio.
“This process of restarting the engine from stalling would cause loud noises and flames, which could have been mistaken for an explosion,” he said.
In a phone interview yesterday, Marcos recalled the various reactions inside the aircraft.
Explosion
“We barely just took off when after a few minutes, there was a loud explosion in the cabin. And I thought, oh my God... is this another terrorist activity? But then I saw this fire from my window. Some of the passengers on the right side saw the flames in the wing and shouted, too,” she said.
“Then we heard an announcement that was more unnerving. We were told that the second engine backfired, but that everything is under control,” said Marcos, who was in Davao City for a talk with the Rotary Club and a visit to several areas in Cotabato.
“Amazingly, the crew was calm about the situation, and so were the passengers. I don’t even think half of the crowd is aware of what has happened,” she added.
When told that the engine stalled because a foreign object, probably a bird, might have entered it, Marcos said she did not believe this was the cause, since she has had flying lessons and had enough orientation to discern engine noises.
They were also informed that restarting the engine from stalling would cause loud noises and flames, thereby causing what may sound like an explosion.
Not a bird
“I didn’t think it was a bird. I wanted to drag Miguel (Zubiri) along, march to the cockpit, and demand that the pilot return the plane back to the airport at once,” she laughingly said.
But the crew quietly assured her that the pilot was exercising maximum caution in the situation.
“There was nothing to do but wait.”
She said most of the agitated passengers have quieted down, and one was seen to be cheerfully eating his dinner.
After the sparks and explosion, however, came turbulence, which went on until the plane reached Cebu. Only then was the plane able to establish contact again.
The passengers were told the engine was back to normal. By that time, they were already smoothly flying at an altitude of more than 30,000 feet.
As soon as PR 816 landed safely in Manila, Marcos received a barrage of phone calls from concerned friends like Rep. Boy Nograles and Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo, among others.
“That was when I found out my plane was supposed to have crashed na pala, according to news,” she said.
Marcos added: “The flight is not at all fun. I am shaken but not stirred.”
She commended the pilot and crew for their bravery and unperturbed demeanor throughout the situation.
“The worse part lang after the incident, was that I had to rush to a ball in my white evening gown,” she said, “but I was whiter than my dress.” (Sunnex/Sun.Star Davao)
(November 17, 2003 issue)
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