Wing glitch forces Northwest jet to Manila

Airline takes precautionary measure because of retraction problem

Top slideshows

Getty Images	The Big Apple Long referred to as the center of American business, New York is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes. Take a visual tour of some of the Big Apple’s most famous attractions.
Lonely Planet Images	Hawaiian paradise The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.
Lonely Planet Images	National spectacles Nearly 400 national parks can be found all across America, and feature breathtaking vistas, rock formations millions of years old, and more.

updated 12:55 p.m. ET Nov. 25, 2008

MANILA, Philippines - A U.S.-bound Northwest Airlines jumbo jet was forced to return to Manila because of a mechanical problem Tuesday, the airline and an airport official said.

The plane was able to land safely less than an hour after departing from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said deputy airport manager Octavio Lina.

In a statement, the airline said the Boeing 747-400, carrying 414 passengers and 14 crew, returned to Manila "as a precaution" because of a wing flap retraction problem.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

The passengers disembarked while the plane underwent inspection and repairs.

The plane flew out of Manila again later in the afternoon en route to Narita, Japan, the stopover for flight NW002 to Los Angeles.

Northwest was acquired by Delta Air Lines for $2.8 billion last month, turning the two U.S. airlines into the world's biggest carrier.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com
Curses! Superstitions around the world
Brits say no to foreign language on holiday
Deadwood marks 20 years of legal gambling
Top 10 global cities to party the night away
Eat, shop and explore Chicago’s ethnic ’hoods