Cathay sorry as unruly traveller on Hong Kong-US flight causes 15-hour delay

HONG KONG (SCMP): Cathay Pacific Airways has apologised for diverting a US-bound flight to Tokyo because of an unruly passenger before returning to Hong Kong, causing a delay of about 15 hours for travellers on board.

Hong Kong’s flag carrier on Sunday pointed to safety guidelines, handling constraints at Tokyo’s Haneda airport and statutory requirements on crew operations as the reasons for the return. It apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.

Cathay Pacific flight 812 took off from Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday at around 7.40pm, heading for Boston in the United States. But the service was diverted to Tokyo’s Haneda airport to deal with the disruptive passenger, according to a Post reporter on board.

Social media users who posted details of the ordeal online said the passenger had assaulted others on the flight and was arrested by police in Tokyo.

After a layover in the Japanese capital, the flight departed for Hong Kong at 3.15am on Sunday and landed at around 7.15am.

Passengers boarded another plane in Hong Kong, with a different crew, before departing again at 10.45am. The flight was scheduled to arrive in Boston on Monday at 1.26am Hong Kong time.

The carrier provided each passenger with a HK$150 (US$19) meal voucher or access to its lounge.

One passenger took to social media to report the delay.

“We came to Hong Kong International Airport to change flights [to Boston], but after a 12-hour journey in the air, we are back to the Hong Kong airport again … is it because I have not done enough window-shopping at the airport?” the person said.

The airline said the disruptive passenger would not be allowed on any Cathay Group flights in the future.

“Safety guides every decision we make. We sincerely apologise to the affected customers for the inconvenience,” it said.

“The captain made the decision to divert the flight in accordance with safety guidelines, and the passenger was escorted off the aircraft by airport security staff and taken away by police afterwards.”

The company added that the flight returned to the city after considering the handling constraints at Haneda airport and the need to observe the statutory requirements on crew operations and rest hours set by the authorities.

An unruly passenger also disrupted a Cathay flight to Chicago in September. The flight was also diverted to Tokyo to remove the passenger, who allegedly verbally abused and touched cabin crew members, causing a two-hour delay in arrival.

Offenders can be asked to compensate the airline for all losses related to their conduct, according to the carrier’s customer terms and conditions governed by Hong Kong laws.

The Aviation Security Ordinance also stipulates that those convicted of unruly behaviour on aircraft may face fines ranging from HK$10,000 to HK$50,000 and up to five years in jail.

Cases of violence against crew and other passengers, as well as harassment, verbal abuse and other forms of unruly behaviour on board planes have been on the rise globally.

According to data published by the International Air Transport Association in May, there was one such incident for every 480 flights last year, up from one per 568 flights in 2022 and one per 835 flights in 2021. – South China Morning Post/ANN