More than 300 passengers were stranded at the airport in Saudi Arabia on Friday after a Philippine Airlines plane bound for Manila failed to take off due to a technical glitch.
The airline management immediately apologized to the affected passengers for the delay of flight PR 655 out of Riyadh.
Passenger Virginia Medina said in an interview over DZMM radio that the plane was supposed to depart the King Salid International Airport in Riyadh late Thursday, but they were asked to disembark due to engine failure.
She said passengers whose visas have not yet expired were booked in hotels, while those whose exit permits have already been stamped spent the night at the airport.
In a statement, Ma. Cielo Villaluna, External Communications and PAL Corporate Communications Department chief, said the flight was originally set to depart Riyadh Thursday (April 6) at 6:50 p.m. local time and arrive in Manila at 10:05 a.m.
“Due to an aircraft situation, the flight did not push through and 388 passengers disembarked. Passengers were given hotel accommodations by PAL, except for several who were not allowed by immigration authorities to leave the airport being holders of exit passes only,” said Villaluna.
She also said PAL officials in Riyadh are coordinating with Immigration authorities in Saudi Arabia to allow the said passengers to leave the airport and return for the flight Saturday.
Villaluna said the PAL management assured that all efforts are being made to ensure the soonest departure out of Riyadh. She added the new target departure date is April 8 at 4 a.m. local time and the estimated time of arrival is at 6:30 p.m. Manila time.
PR Flight PR 655 connects Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Manila, Philippines, taking off from Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and landing at Manila-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
The flight distance is 7777 km/4833 miles and the average flight speed is 869 km/h/540 mph.