Q400 Gears haunts PAL again


Strands Passengers at Zamboanga Airport

December 22 2009

by Monch L. Follosco and Riza Lacbao

Zamboanga City - Hundreds of passengers bound for Cebu City were stranded after their plane encountered mechanical trouble yesterday afternoon at the Zamboanga City International Airport (ZCIA).

Philippine Air Lines Express PR-273, which was scheduled to depart from Zamboanga to Cebu, had to cancel its flight after the plane’s hydraulic front gear exploded.

ZCIA Manager Celso Bayabos told local reporters that PAL airplace encountered mechanical trouble after its hydraulic front gear got leaked and exploded along the runway of the city’s airport.

The plane landed in the airport before 2 o’clock in the afternooon from Davao and was scheduled to depart from Zamboanga City to Cebu City at 2:10 p.m., according to Bayabos.

Airport personnel immediately asked the assistance of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for the use of tow truck and tow bar to clear the runway for other incoming airplanes.

As of this writing, Bayabos said: “The passengers are safe and we still don’t know if they will cancel the flight for Cebu City.” Bayabos, however, said that there is no problem with the runway “this was the first time to happen with no damage to passengers and they are very safe”.

It was learned from local media that hundreds of passengers waited in the departure (terminal area).

PAL Branch Manager Lolito Galarrita has no comment as he was busy attending clients pending the official report of the incident.

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