A Qantas plane bound for Manila was forced to turn around mid-flight after an air traffic control malfunction in the Philippines.
Flight QF19 was about three hours into its eight-hour journey when the pilots were told they wouldn't be able to land at their destination.
The local airspace was closed on Sunday afternoon, preventing airlines from entering Manila. The plane had to turn around because of this.
The plane turned around after flying over the north coast of Australia.
After the airspace in the Philippines was reopened, the plane left for Manila at about 11:30pm on Sunday and then again at about noon on Monday. The Qantas flight landed in Manila.
Tens of thousands of travellers were stranded at Philippine airports due to the air traffic control malfunction which was caused by a power outage which knocked out communication and radar equipment at the country's busiest hub in Manila
More than 500 flights were either delayed, canceled or diverted to other airports, affecting over 50,000 passengers at Manila'sNAIA. The operations at other airports were affected as well.
The country's airspace was used for flights bound for other destinations. It wasn't clear how many flights were affected.
As many people returned to the capital after the Christmas and new year break, the power went out.
The Transport Secretary of the Philippines apologized to passengers.
The air traffic management centre, which controls inbound and outbound flights, went down due to a power outage.
He said a backup was needed for the outdated system.
He said that it was an air traffic management system problem. There is a big difference between us and Singapore, for one.
Thousands of people were trying to rebook tickets or find out when their flights would take off in chaotic scenes at check-in counter.
The others who boarded before the glitch was announced were disembarked after waiting for hours.
Manila airport had resumed normal services.
The first plane to land was a Philippine Airlines flight.
Video clips and photos posted on social media show long lines at the airport and airline personnel handing out food and drinks to passengers.
The chairman of the Philippine telecommunications conglomerate said on social media that they were told radar and navigation facilities at the airport. I had to go back to Haneda after 3 hours on the flight.
Six hours of useless flying is not good for travellers or businesses. There is only one place in the PH. It's really sad.
Passengers due to fly on Sunday were offered free rebooking or the option to convert their tickets to vouchers, according to the airlines.
With the news agencies.
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