A Philippine Airlines flight headed to Hong Kong faced a significant delay on Thursday morning after passengers and crew reported a loud, unusual banging noise while the Airbus 321neo was taxiing at Manila International Airport. Concerned by the sound, the flight crew alerted the control tower, which immediately ordered the aircraft to halt as a precaution. Following standard safety protocols, all passengers were evacuated on the taxiway, and their luggage was offloaded while bomb disposal experts conducted a thorough sweep of the plane and its cargo.

Fortunately, the security check confirmed that the aircraft was safe, and no threats were discovered during the inspection. After being held for three hours, the plane was cleared to resume its journey to Hong Kong. While no arrests were made, Philippine Airlines noted that they are providing support to travelers whose travel plans were disrupted by the hold-up, ensuring that those with missed connections receive the necessary assistance.