Manila-bound EVA Air flight returns to Taoyuan following cabin pressure issue

Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) An EVA Air flight from Taoyuan to Manila was forced to return to the airport Thursday morning due to a cabin pressure issue.

EVA Air said flight BR271 took off from Taoyuan International Airport at 9:54 a.m. and landed safely back at 10:42 a.m. after issuing a 7700 squawk code, which signals a general emergency requiring immediate assistance.

EVA Air apologized and said a different aircraft was deployed to fly passengers to Manila.

One passenger told reporters that about 10 minutes after takeoff, oxygen masks dropped and flight attendants instructed everyone to put them on.

Although some passengers were worried, she said they remained calm until the captain announced a cabin pressure issue and the decision to return to Taoyuan.

The passenger said the incident lasted about 10 minutes, during which the plane circled over waters near Taiwan.

Another passenger, surnamed Chang (張), said everything seemed normal until oxygen masks suddenly dropped, which many initially mistook for a drill.

He said the plane had been flying smoothly and passengers stayed calm after being informed of the issue.

Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration said it was aware of the incident and would launch an investigation.

The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board said it had assigned officials to review the incident and would meet to decide whether to launch a formal investigation.