PAL pilot makes 'perfect' emergency landing in LA

A PAL jumbo jet with 418 passengers and two blown tires made a dramatic emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila), while a CBS News chopper aired its descent live for millions of tense viewers. "It's a perfect, smooth landing for that pilot there from Philippine Airlines," the CBS reporter said from the news chopper. The plane had reportedly blown the two tires while in flight. Among the passengers on board was actress Annabelle Rama, according to a tweet by her daughter Ruffa Gutierrez. A live video report on KCAL 9 News, posted on the website of the CBS Los Angles, showed the final gripping minutes before PAL flight PR102 succeeded in making a safe landing. "It's a perfect, nice, smooth landing for that pilot there from Philippine Airlines," a CBS News reporter told his studio anchors from CBS News chopper Sky9 that had been following the jet as it descended ominously amid the night time lights of the American West's biggest metropolis. "That's a sigh of relief for everybody," the reporter said. "For all of us," echoed one of the anchors. PAL officially declined to release any of the pilots' names, but PAL sources said the captain on the flight was Efren N. Enverga, who was assisted by co-pilots Mark Baniqued, Mark Victor Misa, and Villamor Feria Jr. The video clip started with the plane being seen in its final stages of descent into the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the sixth busiest airport in the world with more than 600,000 flight arrivals and departures every year. "He's very very close... He's doing what he's supposed to do. Low and slow, and he's heavy. You can see the heat coming from all four engines. That's a very positive sign as well," the reporter said shortly before the plane touched ground for the emergency landing. (View the video report here) The program's news anchor admitted being on the edge of her seat while watching the live feed. "Oh my goodness. Some tense moments here... for all of us," she said. "Thank goodness. I'm sure those passengers are thankful they are back on the ground after a long flight," the anchor added. The emergency landing came after the pilot informed LAX about a "landing gear problem" that could affect the plane's landing, prompting firefighting, rescue and medical teams to get into position. An initial inspection by airport authorities after the plane landed revealed the "problem" was traced to two blown tires, according to a follow-up report on KCAL9. Reporter Rita Garcia quoted officials as saying the PAL pilot – after discovering the problem – circled around and made a second attempt at landing. Fire trucks were seen beaming lights at the landing gear of the plane while it was only a few feet above the ground. Meanwhile PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told GMA News Live that the tires on the jet will be repaired for its return flight to Manila, PR103, which will be delayed by several hours. It is now scheduled to depart at 2 a.m. LA time, and estimated to arrive in Manila at 6:40 a.m. Philippine time. Tweets of relief News of the safe landing relieved several Twitter users, including former Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who was prompted to immediately check on his sister. "Whew! Napatawag tuloy ako sa sister ko to check if she's on duty," the lawmaker said. Like Biazon, user "JENinATX" heaved a sigh of relief and twitted: "Whew, good 2 hear." Meanwhile, Skippyheart twitted: "Thank You po LORD! Hooray to the pilot!," while CliveSimpkins simply exclaimed: "Hooray!" on his Twitter account. — Mark Merueñas/LBG/HS, GMA News