HK air accident watchdog unveils preliminary report regarding aborted Cathay flight

The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has classified the recent aborted Cathay Pacific flight that left 11 passengers injured during a takeoff in Hong Kong as an "accident", as stated in the authority's investigation preliminary report. 

The preliminary report stated that it aims to provide factual information established in the investigation’s early evidence collection phase and to convey timely information to both the aviation industry and the general public. However, no analysis or findings are included in the report as the authority's understanding of the accident will be enhanced as the investigation progresses.

This comes after a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles rejected takeoff due to a discrepancy with the airspeed indication in the flight deck on 24 June. The aircraft was carrying a total of 310 persons, including 293 passengers and 17 crew members. As the aircraft taxied back to its parking stand, the crew observed an increasing temperature in the left and right main landing gear brakes, accompanied by progressive deflation of the tires, said the report. 

The report also revealed the crew observed a fire at the left main landing gear. They then alerted the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested assistance. The ATC activated the crash alarm and notified the Airport Fire Contingent, who responded to the emergency. 11 passengers were injured during the evacuation, including two passengers who were seriously injured and required hospitalisation. 

After validating the collected information, the chief inspector of AAIA classified the case as an “accident” and ordered an investigation into its circumstances, causes and contributing factors. "The detailed analysis of the data and information collected will enable the investigation team to determine the circumstances, causes and contributing factors of this accident."

AAIA said it has completed the inspection of the aircraft conditions and secured all relevant photo evidences; interviewed the flight crew, cabin crew and the key ground maintenance personnel. Moving on, AAIA will analyse all relevant operational safety risks subsequent to the high speed RTO of CX880, including the assessment of the escalating fire risk associated with the aircraft’s main landing gear section, as well as other safety hazards that could pose risks to the ground maintenance personnel due to overheating brakes.

It will also conduct an in-depth examination of the retained aircraft components, with some components dispatched to overseas testing facility for detailed examination and testing; review the operator’s emergency procedures and practices.

Don't miss: Cathay Pacific's apology and firing of cabin crew members: Will it be enough to weather the PR storm?

Cathay Pacific is no stranger to controversy. Back in May, the airline apologised and announced the firing of three cabin crew members who were accused by a passenger of insulting and discriminating against non-English speakers. 

This comes after details of the alleged incident during a flight from Chengdu in Sichuan province to Hong Kong on Sunday revealed on Xiaohongshu went viral across social platforms. The Xiaohongshu user made several accusations against some cabin crew members on the flight CX987, including some members teased passengers’ language ability by saying in English: “If you cannot speak ‘blanket’, you cannot have it,”, “Carpet is on the floor”.

The post has garnered over 10k likes and 1,000 comments. Since then, Cathay apologised twice on Weibo on 22 and 23 May respectively, stating that it has suspended the flight attendants involved during the course of an internal investigation.

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