The sky over Manila this morning suddenly turned into a disaster. Commercial flight PR-672, departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Tokyo, had just taken off for more than 10 minutes when a loud explosion suddenly occurred from the right engine. The plane shook violently, passengers screamed in panic, and in a split second, the entire giant block of metal plummeted straight into the East Sea.
A column of black smoke billowed from the sea surface, debris scattered across the water. Witnesses on a nearby fishing boat trembled as they recounted: “We heard the roar of the engine, then a fireball fell into the sea. It was like the end of the world, no one could believe it.” Fishermen immediately rushed their boats to the scene, along with Philippine and Japanese rescue forces searching in despair.
The Coast Guard blocked off the area, rescue helicopters hovered overhead, red and blue lights flashed on the waves. Paramedics tried to retrieve each victim. CPR, oxygen masks, and electric shocks were performed on the deck of the rescue ship. But when Manny Pacquiao’s body was brought up, the entire medical team choked up. The chief doctor at the scene confirmed: “He did not survive, there were no signs of life when he was picked up.”
The bad news spread like a storm. At Manila Memorial Hospital, the ICU was bright and bright, receiving the seriously injured. The monitors were ringing, doctors and nurses were running through the hallways. Outside, thousands of fans gathered, holding up banners reading #PrayForManny. The cries were loud, many collapsed when they heard that he – boxing legend, politician, national pride – had passed away.
Global media headlines were unanimous: “Manny Pacquiao died in a tragic plane crash in the South China Sea.” Mike Tyson wrote on Twitter: “The boxing world has lost a great warrior.” Floyd Mayweather choked up: “We were rivals, but today I lost a part of my history.” Philippine President Declares 7 Days of National Mourning: “Manny Pacquiao Was Not Just a Champion, He Was the Heart and Soul of the Filipino People.”
Around the world, grief spread. In Tokyo, Japanese fans laid white fl
owers and lit candles outside Narita Airport. In New York, Madison Square Garden showed a video honoring Pacquiao’s legendary fights. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower turned off its lights for a minute of silence. On social media, the hashtags #GoodbyePacquiao and #LegendForever exploded, reaching billions of shares in just a few hours.
The most mournful climax came when a military helicopter brought the Philippine flag-draped coffin from a rescue ship to the mainland. Manila church bells rang out, hundreds of thousands of fans knelt along both sides of the street, crying out his name. Paparazzi captured the shocking moments: fans clutching tearful boxing gloves, candles flickering in the sea breeze, and Pacquiao’s portrait placed in a sea of white flowers.
Manny Pacquiao – from a poor boy in General Santos to the greatest boxer in Asia, from a legendary boxer to an influential politician – ended his glorious journey in a tragic sky. The world lost an immortal icon, and the Philippines lost the greatest pride of its people.
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