PAL diverts Manila-bound flight to Cebu after 'technical problem'

MANILA — A week after its aircraft spewed flames midair minutes after takeoff in Los Angeles, California, another Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight encountered a technical problem Saturday morning, this time a plane bound for Manila from Tagbilaran.

The PAL aircraft, an Airbus A321, made a premature landing at the Mactan Cebu International Airport instead of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after a "technical problem" was reported past 11 a.m.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said "no emergency landing was declared," adding an investigation is underway to determine why the flight was diverted.

About 150 passengers were safely disembarked and were being booked on the next flight to Manila as of this posting.

Some passengers expressed concerns on social media after the incident.

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A post shared by Engr. Aleksandre A. Pates (@aleks_phates) on Nov 29, 2019 at 7:56pm PST

"Quite scary indeed a few minutes after the airplane took off, there was a technical difficulty," passenger Aleksandre Pates said on Instagram.