Philippine officials say false alarm after Saudi Airlines jet stormed by police

Saudi Arabia Airlines Flight SV 872 sits in an isolated corner of Manila International airport. Photo / Twitter

Philippine officials say a Saudi Arabian Airlines plane from Jeddah made a distress call shortly before landing at Manila's airport and was placed in isolation after it touched down, but the flight crew later said they made a mistake in sending the emergency message.

Manila airport manager Eddie Monreal said authorities deployed security forces around the aircraft as a precaution.

Passengers were later allowed to disembark.He said the captain told the control tower that a button indicating a hijacking was in progress had been pushed accidently.

TV stations showed Flight SV872 parked near a ramp with security personnel standing nearby while passengers descended from a staircase.