An EVA Air flight bound for Manila was forced to return to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Thursday morning due to a sudden loss of cabin pressure, according to local media reports.
Flight BR271 departed from Taoyuan at 9:24 AM, but shortly after takeoff, a warning light signaled a drop in cabin pressure, prompting oxygen masks to deploy inside the aircraft, Taiwan News reported, citing Liberty Times.
Flight attendants immediately instructed passengers to use the masks as the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft initiated a return to Taoyuan under emergency protocol. The plane safely landed back at the airport at 10:42 a.m.
EVA Air confirmed the incident and said it followed standard safety procedures. The airline dispatched another aircraft of the same model to transport the passengers to Manila and issued meal vouchers to affected travelers while they waited at the terminal.
“We sincerely apologize to our passengers for the inconvenience,” the airline said in a statement.
Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration has launched an initial review of the incident in line with standard procedures. The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board also sent three teams to the airport to gather data before deciding whether to initiate a formal investigation, according to United Daily News (UDN).
The airline has not reported any injuries among passengers or crew.