Engine woes force plane back to airport

AN engine problem forced an Air Philippines aircraft to return to the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) more than 15 minutes after it took off, airport authorities confirmed yesterday.

Mary Ann Dimabayao, officer in charge of the MCIA Public Affairs Office, said all 121 passengers and six crew of Air Philippines 2P 247 flight were safe when the plane landed  at the airport’s runway.

Dimabayao said the plane’s left engine failed to function while airborne en route to Davao City. There was no smoke that came out of the plane, which landed smoothly on the runway at 9:15 a.m., Dimabayao said.

Richard Quiñanola of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (formerly ATO) said the pilot called for advice from the control tower about their left engine problem at 9:36 a.m.

Quiñanola said the plane, an Airbus 320, safely landed back at 9:51 a.m.  Only 106 passengers agreed to be transferred to another plane, which left at 11:23 a.m., for Davao City. Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Norman V. Mendoza