PAL to passengers: Sorry for false bomb threat in SFO

The management of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Thursday apologized to passengers who “were held off" by a “rigid security check" following a phoned-in bomb threat that prodded California authorities to search the aircraft coming in from Manila. “The airline apologizes for the delay and inconvenience… The safety and security of our passengers are paramount so we gave our full cooperation to the investigators," said PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna. She said the bomb threat, which prompted authorities in California to search the Philippine Airlines aircraft that landed at the San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday night, was a “hoax." The plane, which carried 337 passengers and 20 crewmembers, underwent a “rigid security check," said Villaluna. “The passengers were held off before the plane was cleared." Authorities ended the search after not finding any threats, she said, adding that no injuries were reported among passengers or the crew. She said the unknown call was made to the airline’s cargo warehouse in the San Francisco Bay area. The same plane, which carried 303 passengers back to the Philippines, safely touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 23.—Jesse Edep/JV, GMA News