Pilot sues Hong Kong’s Cathay, Haeco for alleged negligence over 2018 ‘cabin fume event’

Antonia Louise Zoya Anton, a former first officer, says she inhaled contaminated air while piloting a flight in 2018

Reading Time:2 minutes

A pilot has sued Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and its sister company over an alleged “fume event” in 2018. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 7:00pm, 6 Aug 2024Updated: 9:41pm, 7 Aug 2024

A pilot has sued Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and a sister company over personal injuries she said she suffered after inhaling contaminated air during a flight in 2018.

Antonia Louise Zoya Anton, who was employed by Cathay Pacific as a first officer on the flight, accused the airline and the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (Haeco) of negligence over the incident.

The civil case, first filed in 2021, had procedural hearings on Monday and Tuesday at the High Court.

Anton, who is being represented by law firm Munros, claimed that during flight CX412 on May 19, 2018, a “cabin fume event” occurred in which the breathable air supply was contaminated.

She accused Cathay of negligence, breach of the common law duty to care and breach of statutory duties, as well as of breaching the terms of her contract.

Anton also accused Haeco of negligence, breach of the common law duty to care and breach of statutory duties, claiming the incident arose from the company’s poor maintenance, repair or cleaning of the aircraft.

Haeco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific, which is Cathay Pacific’s biggest shareholder with a 45 per cent stake in the airline.