DOTr orders probe on PAL flight diverted to Japan due to smoke in cabin

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PAL flight PR102 bound for Los Angeles had to make an emergency landing at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo at 3:30 am

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation chief Vince Dizon has ordered an investigation on the Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight that was diverted to Japan in the early hours of Thursday, April 10.

PAL flight PR102 bound for Los Angeles had to make an emergency landing at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo at 3:30 am. The flag carrier said that there were “initial findings of smoke emitting from 1 of 2 air conditioning units” of the Boeing 777 aircraft.

The smoke affected both the cabin and the cockpit.

All 359 passengers and 18 flight deck and cabin crew are safe and were disembarked at 10 am, PAL said in a statement. It took about 6 hours and “several requests” before they were assigned a gate at the airport.

“For those without visas, they will be given shore passes para makapag-relax po muna sila (so they can relax for a bit) and I think from what we have learned from PAL is that the airline is now finding flights for them to fly to Los Angeles kasi (because) the plane, I don’t think has been cleared to continue the journey,” Dizon said in a press conference.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) — through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) — has asked the flag carrier to explain the incident, issuing a show cause order on Thursday.

CAAP has been instructed to investigate the incident.

The show cause order issued to PAL noted that passengers were not assisted by ground personnel and there was no transport support given to the passengers.

The DOTr also emphasized that PAL had responsibilities under the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, where the airline is mandated to give “timely assistance” — from accommodation to information — to affected passengers.

“I just want to remind PAL that it is their responsibility to take care of our passengers,” Dizon said.

In a statement issued by the airline at 1:57 pm, however, PAL said: “Our ground operations team at Tokyo Haneda Airport is providing full support, including meals, baggage assistance, and arranging alternative flights to help passengers continue their journey.” – Rappler.com