The plane carrying Sen. Manny Pacquiao to Los Angeles for his boxing match with Errol Spence Jr. had to return to Manila on Sunday following a medical emergency involving one of its passengers.
Pacquiao's lawyer Tom Falgui, who was on the same flight, confirmed that the senator was among the 186 passengers aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 102 which made an emergency landing in Haneda Airport in Japan after a passenger had a medical emergency.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told dzBB that the flight departed Manila at 9 p.m. on Saturday night but had to divert five hours later to Haneda Airport. The passenger was immediately provided medical attention and did not have to be boarded off the aircraft.
The flight had to return to Manila as its landing permit in Los Angeles International Airport only allowed it to land at 7 p.m. on Saturday (LA time) and anytime before midnight of the same day, Villanuna said.
Due to the diversion and refueling at Haneda, the flight will arrive in LA at 1 a.m., July 4, she added.
The flight landed back in Manila shortly after 12 noon and is scheduled to fly back again for LA at 2 p.m. It is set to arrive in LA before noon there on July 4.
Pacquiao's fight against Spence is set for Aug. 21.
