Global Courant
Eleven passengers were injured during an evacuation of a Cathay Pacific jetliner that aborted takeoff in Hong Kong due to a technical problem, the airline said
Taipei, Taiwan — A Cathay Pacific jetliner aborted its takeoff at Hong Kong International Airport early Saturday and 11 passengers were injured while evacuating the plane, the airline said.
Flight CX880, bound for Los Angeles, returned to the gate after a “technical issue” caused the crew to abort takeoff and initiate “a preventive passenger evacuation,” the airline said in a statement. It said the occupants used five escape slides to exit the plane.
Cathay Pacific did not provide details about the problem. Public broadcaster RTHK reported that one of the plane’s tires had overheated, causing it to burst, citing police.
The flight was carrying 293 passengers and 17 crew members.
“We understand that 11 passengers are being treated in hospital with injuries sustained during the evacuation process,” said Cathay Pacific. “Our priority is to take care of all affected passengers and crew members.”
By 10:30 am, nine of the injured passengers had been released from hospital, the airline later said.
On another plane, the flight departed for Los Angeles at 10:12 a.m. with 283 passengers on board, it said.
