HONG KONG — Ten people were injured early Saturday morning after a Cathay Pacific flight from Brisbane, Australia, encountered severe weather and sudden turbulence, forcing emergency medical crews to swarm the aircraft upon its arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
The incident occurred aboard flight CX156, operated by an Airbus A350-900 (registration B-LRV). According to airline officials and passenger accounts, the aircraft ran into a severe storm approximately two hours before its scheduled landing, resulting in a sudden and violent drop in altitude.
The brief but intense plunge left six cabin crew members and four passengers with minor injuries and abrasions.
“Like a Drop Tower”
Passengers on board the overnight flight described scenes of sudden panic in the cabin. The turbulence reportedly struck just as flight attendants were moving through the economy class cabin preparing a meal service.
“It felt like free-falling from a drop tower,” one passenger told local media, describing a harrowing two-second plunge that sent unsecured food containers, trays, and personal items flying through the air and crashing into the aisles.
Because cabin crew members were actively working the aisles when the altitude drop occurred, they bore the brunt of the incident. Crew members are disproportionately vulnerable during sudden clear-air disturbances as they cannot easily buckle into jumpseats when a plane unexpectedly drops.
Emergency Response at the Gate
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong confirmed it received an alert regarding injuries on board at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time, prompting fire and ambulance services to stand by on the tarmac.
The aircraft touched down safely ahead of schedule at 6:45 a.m. Paramedics and medical personnel immediately boarded the aircraft to assess the cabin crew and passengers.
Cathay Pacific issued a statement confirming the encounter with the storm during the flight’s return from Brisbane. The flagship carrier emphasized that medical personnel attended to those who felt unwell right at the gate, adding that they will continue to closely monitor the condition of the injured and provide all necessary assistance.
The event has renewed ongoing discussions within the aviation industry regarding standard safety protocols during meal services and the critical importance of keeping passenger seatbelts fastened at all times while seated, even when the overhead warning sign is turned off.
