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

Flight CX812 diverted to Tokyo, where passenger was arrested, before plane returns to Hong Kong and departs again

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Passengers have taken to social media to complain about the ordeal on the flight to Boston. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 4:43pm, 22 Dec 2024Updated: 7:16pm, 22 Dec 2024

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.