2 Hong Kong-based airlines report separate mid-air problems on Easter Sunday, one involving cracked cockpit windscreen
- Pilot of Greater Bay Airlines flight HB341 carrying 160 people leaving Osaka discovers cracks in windscreen but lands safely in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Airlines says flight HX780 experienced ‘technical issue’ shortly after take-off and was forced to return to Bangkok, with no injuries reported
Two Hong Kong-based airlines reported separate mid-air problems on Easter Sunday, including a Greater Bay Airlines flight from Japan whose pilot spotted cracks in the cockpit windscreen while returning to the city.
Greater Bay Airlines flight HB341 carrying 152 passengers and eight crew members departed Osaka Kansai International Airport and was scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong at 4.55pm.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong said it received a report at about 5.20pm that suspected cracks in the cockpit windscreen were found, and the crew requested authorities to conduct a “local standby”.
The term refers to a situation where an aircraft approaching an airport is known or suspected to have developed a defect, but the issue does not pose a significant difficulty in making a safe landing.
The plane landed safely at the north runway at about 5.45pm.
An airline spokesman told the Post the captain had discovered “cracks” on the outer layer of the cockpit windscreen as the flight was approaching Hong Kong at 5.22pm.
