What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Manila-Ninoy Aquino Airport runway 31, the pilot identified technical difficulties with the aircraft. In response to these issues, the captain decided to abort the flight and return to the airport for an emergency landing.
As the flight progressed, the decision was made to attempt a ditching in the waters off Manila. Upon impacting the surface, the aircraft suffered a structural failure where the tail section separated from the fuselage. The wreckage subsequently submerged to a depth of approximately 15 meters.
Outcomes
Search and rescue operations resulted in the survival of 15 individuals. However, the accident resulted in 19 fatalities, which included one member of the crew.