PAL airplane hit by lightning on May 7, 9 injured

FIRST HERE! A Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane said to have been struck by lightning today, May 7, 2011.

TV host Kat de Castro tweeted a few minutes ago that she is waiting for the official report from PAL and NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) regarding the 6 ground staff of the Bangkok-bound PAL Airbus 320 who were sent to a hospital after lightning struck their plane.

"Dear PAL/NAIA... waiting for your official statement on 6 ground staff rushed to the hospital after lightning struck BKK bound Airbus 320," de Castro tweeted.

"The incident happened between 7-8pm. Airbus, as @bobreyes tweeted, rarely gets hit by lightning. Maybe it hit a ground equipment near plane," the host added.

This post will be updated when the report will be verified.

Updates: De Castro added these info on Twitter:

"Accdg to NAIA Media Affairs Ricky Valmonte, 9 were injured. 4 of them were rushed to San Juan De Dios Hosp, 2 at Mkti Med."

"All PAL BKK passengers were transferred to another plane. But the Airbus in the lightning incident is still at bay 39 of NAIA Terminal 2."

"Tweeps, please read my tweets carefully. I said GROUND staff was rushed to hospital. So malamang, wala pa sa ere yung Airbus. Peace."

"Ground staff rushed to the hospital were baggage loaders and equipment operators."

Update from PAL's Twitter account:

"#PALnews 9 airport employees (5 PAL, 4 aircraft cleaners) declared out of danger by Makati Medical and San Juan de Dios Hospital"

Statement from PAL via Facebook:

"Nine airport employees (5 PAL, 4 aircraft cleaners) declared out of danger by Makati Medical Center and San Juan de Dios Hospital after sustaining minor injuries from the effects of lightning that struck a PAL airplane early tonight. The workers were taking shelter under the airplane from a sudden heavy downpour when the lightning struck."