FALSE ALARM Saudia plane isolated in Manila after false distress call

Posted on 09/20/2016 | About Manila, Philippines

Philippine officials say a Saudi Arabian Airlines plane from Jeddah made a distress call Tuesday shortly before landing at Manila's airport and was placed in isolation after it touched down, but the flight crew later said they made a mistake in sending the emergency message.

Manila airport manager Eddie Monreal said authorities deployed security forces around the aircraft as a precaution. Passengers were later allowed to disembark.He said the captain told the control tower that a button indicating a hijacking was in progress had been pushed accidently.TV stations showed Flight SV872 parked near a ramp with security personnel standing nearby while passengers descended from a staircase.