Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways said it had launched an investigation after a dozen oxygen bottles used by cabin crew in emergencies were found empty, or partially empty, on two of its aircraft.
The discovery was made on the ground in routine inspections before a departure from Toronto, the carrier said, adding that of the 22 bottles carried onboard each jet, five were affected on one aircraft and eight on the other.
“The portable oxygen bottles are for operational cabin crew use and permit crew to move around the cabin in the unlikely event of emergency aircraft depressurisation,” Cathay said in a statement.
The airline said the depleted bottles were refilled and checked by engineers prior to departure.