Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has diverted a US-bound flight to Japan after a passenger reported feeling unwell. - Photo: X/Cygnus
HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific Airways has diverted a Hong Kong-to-New York flight to Tokyo after a passenger reported feeling unwell during the journey.
Hong Kong’s flag carrier on Sunday (Oct 6) confirmed the diversion of flight CX840, which left the city at around 6.25pm on Saturday (Oct 5).
“Flight CX840 from Hong Kong to New York JFK on [Saturday] was diverted to Tokyo Haneda to offload a customer who became unwell during the flight. The aircraft landed safely at 1.44am local time on [Sunday],” a Cathay Pacific spokesman told the Post in a written reply.
The carrier said local airport staff sent the passenger to a hospital for further medical treatment.
Other passengers were put up in a local hotel as the flight had to stay overnight at the airport due to “the statutory requirement on crew operation and rest hours set by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department”, the spokesman added.
The carrier did not reveal how many passengers were affected by the diversion.
The flight is expected to depart Tokyo at 9.20pm local time, or 8.20pm Hong Kong time, on Sunday.
“The safety of our customers and crew members guides every decision we make,” the spokesman said, while apologising to the affected passengers for the inconvenience.
This is the second time in a week that Cathay has diverted a US-bound flight to Tokyo.
Last Sunday, flight CX806 from Hong Kong to Chicago was diverted to Tokyo Narita International Airport due to an unruly passenger, who was later escorted off the aircraft by airport staff.
A source said the passenger was disruptive on the Chicago-bound flight as he had been drinking and the cabin crew removed alcohol from him. He was given a verbal warning but continued to behave in an unruly manner, the insider added.
Earlier this month, Cathay blacklisted two Cantonese-speaking passengers who harassed a mainland Chinese traveller on a London-bound flight.
The mainland traveller took to social media platform Xiaohongshu, posting that she was kicked and verbally abused by the couple sitting behind her after she reclined her seat. - South China Morning Post
