PAL mounts flight to Uzbekistan to bring home OFWs

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Saturday it mounted a flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to ferry overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were clamoring to go back home.

In a statement on Saturday, PAL said its flight PR8688/RP-C8764 touched down at Tashkent International Airport at 3:22 a.m. (local time) on August 22 after a nine-hour and 30-minute non-stop journey from Manila.

“This is a milestone flight marking PAL's first journey to the capital city of Uzbekistan,” the flag carrier said.

The flight was now en route Manila with 257 passengers on board.

"This pandemic has posed challenges in all of our lives, but when opportunity calls, we must help those in need for as long as we can. It is an honor to be of service to our countrymen," PAL's A330/A350 chief pilot, Capt. Emmanuel “Butch” Generoso said.

Generoso was in command of the Manila-Tashkent flight. For the return flight to Manila, Capt. Richard Allan Solapco led the flight deck crew, assisted by First Officer Paolo Padla and Second Officer Martin Tamondong.

Flight Purser Maria Elva Barrientos headed the cabin crew team. — DVM, GMA News