Plane with Binay’s wife releases smoke, makes emergency landing

Philippine Airlines (Wikimedia Commons photo)

MANILA – A Philippine Airlines plane bound for Manila, with Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay’s wife among the passengers, made an emergency landing at the Davao International Airport on Friday.

The Airbus A321-231 landed at around 1:34 p.m. shortly after some passengers saw smoke coming out from the rear of the cargo compartment and the pilots noticing the smoke warning.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) personnel and medical teams awaited the aircraft’s landing. After an initial investigation, CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio disclosed that no smoke was detected from the plane upon inspection.

None of the 131 passengers, including Elenita Binay and the aircraft crew, were hurt but a passenger who reportedly passed out due to anxiety was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Senator Cynthia Villar’s son, Las Piñas Representative Mark Villar, and Sultan Kudarat First District Representative Pax Mangudadatu were also aboard PAL flight PR1814.

Binay was supposedly on her way back to Manila from General Santos City and Davao del Sur. Due to the incident, she extended her stay in Davao City.