A shocking event unfolded in the early hours last June 24 when Cathay Pacific flight CX880, scheduled from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), had to abort its takeoff. This sudden halt led to an emergency evacuation, resulting in injuries to 11 passengers. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, ready for departure at 00:05, was carrying 17 crew members along with 293 passengers on board.
The Mystery Behind the Halted Takeoff
The precise reason for the abrupt termination of the takeoff remains a mystery. According to an airline representative, the stoppage was due to a “technical issue.” Conversely, a statement from Hong Kong International Airport attributes it to a “signal anomaly.” A report from the South China Morning Post indicates that during takeoff, the aircraft had 12 damaged wheels and flames were visible near the wheels. Thankfully, the pilots acted promptly, employing the emergency brakes before takeoff and steering the plane back to the gate.
Emergency Evacuation Leads to Passenger Injuries
Following the stopped takeoff on runway 07R, the plane managed to safely return to the gate. However, the crew deemed it necessary to perform a safety evacuation through the five door escape slides. During this process, ten women and one man, all passengers, sustained injuries. Ambulances immediately attended the scene, transporting the injured to local hospitals for treatment.
A Cathay Pacific spokesperson confirmed, “Nine of the eleven passengers who received treatment at hospitals have been discharged. Our colleagues will continue to provide support to the two hospitalized passengers and their families.”
In an unfortunate breach of evacuation protocol, some passengers were seen carrying their hand luggage during the evacuation, which is not allowed. Such actions can slow down the evacuation process and risk damaging the escape slides.
Alternate Arrangements and Further Investigation
In the aftermath of the incident, the airline arranged for overnight hotel accommodation for the passengers affected by the incident. Cathay Pacific subsequently deployed another aircraft to operate flight CX880, also providing alternate arrangements for passengers with connecting flights.
Data from Flightradar24 shows that the replacement flight, also a 777-300ER, departed Hong Kong at 10:37 with 283 passengers onboard – 10 fewer than the original flight.
The aircraft involved in the mishap, registered B-KPQ, is just over 13 years old. Delivered to Cathay Pacific by Boeing in April 2010, it remains grounded in Hong Kong as investigations continue.
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