PAL Flight Carrying Nearly 90 People Forced to Return Mid-Flight After Smoke in Cabin

A Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight using a De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop. Courtesy of Philippine Airlines

A Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight carrying 82 passengers and four crew members was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a “technical problem,” according to officials.

Flight PR2543 experienced a technical issue that resulted in smoke venting into the cabin, PAL spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna said in a statement that was posted on the Philippine News Agency, a web-based government newswire service.