Technical snag strands 238 Saudi-bound Filipinos at Dubai Airport

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Two hundred and thirty-eight Filipinos including children and babies have been stranded for hours at the Dubai International Airport on Monday, after their Philippine Airlines direct flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from Metro Manila experienced technical issues and so the diversion.

Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Renato Duenas Jr. visited them on Monday afternoon to check on their well-being and concerns, according to a press release from the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.

The group is 85 per cent of the 280-passenger flight that departed from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City, Metro Manila at 2:43 p.m. on Monday (Philippine time).

Duenas assured the stranded passengers that the consular mission is on stand-by for any assistance they need and provided them the hotline of the Assistance to Nationals Section.

The airline had provided them with meal vouchers and designated waiting areas especially for those travelling with infants and children.

As of press time, PR654 is scheduled to leave Dubai at 10:40 p.m. on Monday. It is estimated to arrive at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh one hour after or at 11:50pm.